Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful forthe diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders (“IBD”) inmammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for thesame.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term inflammatory bowel disorder (“IBD”) describes a group ofchronic inflammatory disorders of unknown causes in which the intestine(bowel) becomes inflamed, often causing recurring cramps or diarrhea.The prevalence of IBD in the US is estimated to be about 200 per 100,000population. Patients with IBD can be divided into two major groups,those with ulcerative colitis (“UC”) and those with Crohn's disease(“CD”).

In patients with UC, there is an inflammatory reaction primarilyinvolving the colonic mucosa. The inflammation is typically uniform andcontinuous with no intervening areas of normal mucosa. Surface mucosalcells as well as crypt epithelium and submucosa are involved in aninflammatory reaction with neutrophil infiltration. Ultimately, thissituation typically progresses to epithelial damage with loss ofepithelial cells resulting in multiple ulcerations, fibrosis, dysplasiaand longitudinal retraction of the colon.

CD differs from UC in that the inflammation extends through all layersof the intestinal wall and involves mesentery as well as lymph nodes. CDmay affect any part of the alimentary canal from mouth to anus. Thedisease is often discontinuous, i.e., severely diseased segments ofbowel are separated from apparently disease-free areas. In CD, the bowelwall also thickens which can lead to obstructions. In addition, fistulasand fissures are not uncommon.

Clinically, IBD is characterized by diverse manifestations oftenresulting in a chronic, unpredictable course. Bloody diarrhea andabdominal pain are often accompanied by fever and weight loss. Anemia isnot uncommon, as is severe fatigue. Joint manifestations ranging fromarthralgia to acute arthritis as well as abnormalities in liver functionare commonly associated with IBD. Patients with IBD also have anincreased risk of colon carcinomas compared to the general population.During acute “attacks” of IBD, work and other normal activity areusually impossible, and often a patient is hospitalized.

Although the cause of IBD remains unknown, several factors such asgenetic, infectious and immunologic susceptibility have been implicated.IBD is much more common in Caucasians, especially those of Jewishdescent. The chronic inflammatory nature of the condition has promptedan intense search for a possible infectious cause. Although agents havebeen found which stimulate acute inflammation, none has been found tocause the chronic inflammation associated with IBD. The hypothesis thatIBD is an autoimmune disease is supported by the previously mentionedextraintestinal manifestation of IBD as joint arthritis, and the knownpositive response to IBD by treatment with therapeutic agents such asadrenal glucocorticoids, cyclosporine and azathioprine, which are knownto suppress immune response. In addition, the GI tract, more than anyother organ of the body, is continuously exposed to potential antigenicsubstances such as proteins from food, bacterial byproducts (LPS), etc.

Once the diagnosis has been made, typically by endoscopy, the goals oftherapy are to induce and maintain a remission. The least toxic agentswhich patients are typically treated with are the aminosalicylates.Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), typically administered four times a day,consists of an active molecule of aminosalicylate (5-ASA) which islinked by an azo bond to a sulfapyridine. Anaerobic bacteria in thecolon split the azo bond to release active 5-ASA. However, at least 20%of patients cannot tolerate sulfapyridine because it is associated withsignificant side-effects such as reversible sperm abnormalities,dyspepsia or allergic reactions to the sulpha component. These sideeffects are reduced in patients taking olsalazine. However, neithersulfasalazine nor olsalazine are effective for the treatment of smallbowel inflammation. Other formulations of 5-ASA have been developedwhich are released in the small intestine (e.g. mesalamine and asacol).Normally it takes 6-8 weeks for 5-ASA therapy to show full efficacy.Patients who do not respond to 5-ASA therapy, or who have a more severedisease, are prescribed corticosteroids. However, this is a short termtherapy and cannot be used as a maintenance therapy. Clinical remissionis achieved with corticosteroids within 2-4 weeks, however the sideeffects are significant and include a Cushing goldface, facial hair,severe mood swings and sleeplessness. The response to sulfasalazine and5-aminosalicylate preparations is poor in Crohn's disease, fair to mildin early ulcerative colitis and poor in severe ulcerative colitis. Ifthese agents fail, powerfill immunosuppressive agents such ascyclosporine, prednisone, 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine (converted inthe liver to 6-mercaptopurine) are typically tried. For Crohn's diseasepatients, the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressives mustbe carefully monitored because of the high risk of intra-abdominalsepsis originating in the fistulas and abscesses common in this disease.Approximately 25% of IBD patients will require surgery (colectomy)during the course of the disease.

Further, the risk of colon cancer is elevated (≧32×) in patients withsevere ulcerative colitis, particularly if the disease has existed forseveral years. About 20-25% of patients with IBD eventually requiresurgery for removal of the colon because of massive bleeding, chronicdebilitating illness, performation of the colon, or risk of cancer.Surgery is also sometimes performed when other forms of medicaltreatment fail or when the side effects of steroids or other medicationsthreaten the patient's health. As surgery is invasive and drasticallylife altering, it is not a highly desireable treatment regimen, and istypically the treatment of last resort.

In addition to pharmaceutical medicine and surgery, nonconventionaltreatments for IBD such as nutritional therapy have also been attempted.For example, Flexical®, a semi-elemental formula, has been shown to beas effective as the steroid prednisolone. Sanderson et al, Archz. Dis.Child. 51:123-7 (1987). However, semi-elemental formulas are relativelyexpensive and are typically unpalatable—thus their use has beenrestricted. Nutritional therapy incorporating whole proteins has alsobeen attempted to alleviate the symptoms of IBD. Giafer et al., Lancet335: 816-9 (1990). U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,033 describes the use of acidiccasein isolated from bovine milk and TGF-β2. Beattie et al., Aliment.Phannacol. Thler. 8: 1-6 (1994) describes the use of casein in infantformula in children with IBD. U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,295 describes the useof casein in an enteric formulation for the treatment of IBD. However,while nutrional therapy is non-toxic, it is only a palliative treatmentand does not treat the underlying cause of the disease.

Despite these advances in mammalian IBD therapy, however, there is agreat need for additional diagnostic and therapeutic agents capable ofdetecting and treating IBD in a mammal. Accordingly, it is an objectiveof the present invention to identify polypeptides that are overexpressedon cells from IBD tissue as compared to on normal cells, and to usethose polypeptides, and their encoding nucleic acids, to producecompositions of matter useful in the diagnostic detection andtherapeutic treatment of IBD in mammals.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions and methods for thediagnosis and treatment of IBD in mammals. The present invention isbased on the identification of compounds (Le., proteins) that testpositive in various assays that test modulation (e.g., promotion orinhibition) of certain biological activities. Such compounds are hereinreferred to as PRO polypeptides. Accordingly, the compounds are believedto be useful drugs and/or drug components for the diagnosis and/ortreatment (including prevention and amelioration) of disorders wheresuch effects are desired. In addition, the compositions and methods ofthe invention provide for the diagnostic monitoring of patientsundergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of IBD-relateddisorders, for monitoring the efficacy of compounds in clinical trialsand for identifying subjects who may be predisposed to such IBD-relateddisorders.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a compositioncomprising a PRO polypeptide, an agonist or antagonist thereof, or ananti-PRO antibody in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. In one aspect, the composition comprises a therapeuticallyeffective amount of the polypeptide, agonist, antagonist or antibody. Inanother aspect, the composition comprises a further active ingredient.Preferably, the composition is sterile. The PRO polypeptide, agonist,antagonist or antibody may be administered in the form of a liquidpharmaceutical formulation, which may be preserved to achieve extendedstorage stability. Preserved liquid pharmaceutical formulations mightcontain multiple doses of PRO polypeptide, agonist, antagonist orantibody, and might, therefore, be suitable for repeated use. In apreferred embodiment, where the composition comprises an antibody, theantibody is a monoclonal antibody, an antibody fragment, a humanantibody, a humanized antibody or a single-chain antibody. Antibodies ofthe present invention may optionally be conjugated to a growthinhibitory agent or cytotoxic agent such as a toxin, including, forexample, a maytansinoid or calicheamicin, an antibiotic, a radioactiveisotope, a nucleotlytic enzyme, or the like. The antibodies of thepresent invention may optionally be produced in CHO cells or bacterialcells and preferably induce death of a cell to which it binds. Fordiagnostic purposes, the antibodies of the present invention may bedetectably labeled.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method forpreparing such a composition useful for the treatment of an IBDcomprising admixing a therapeutically effective amount of a PROpolypeptide, agonist, antagonist or antibody with a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides an article ofmanufacture comprising:

-   -   (a) a composition of matter comprising a PRO polypeptide or        agonist or antagonist thereof;    -   (b) a container containing said composition; and    -   (c) a label affixed to said container, or a package insert        included in said container referring to the use of said PRO        polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereof in the treatment of        an IBD, wherein the agonist or antagonist may be an antibody        which binds to the PRO polypeptide. The composition may comprise        a therapeutically effective amount of the PRO polypeptide or the        agonist or antagonist thereof.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method foridentifying an agonist of a PRO polypeptide comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting cells and a test compound to be screened under        conditions suitable for the induction of a cellular response        normally induced by a PRO polypeptide; and    -   (b) determining the induction of said cellular response to        determine if the test compound is an effective agonist, wherein        the induction of said cellular response is indicative of said        test compound being an effective agonist.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method foridentifying an agonist of a PRO polypeptide comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting cells and a test compound to be screened under        conditions suitable for the stimulation of cell proliferation by        a PRO polypeptide; and    -   (b) measuring the proliferation of said cells to determine if        the test compound is an effective agonist, wherein the        stimulation of cell proliferation is indicative of said test        compound being an effective agonist.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for identifying acompound that inhibits the activity of a PRO polypeptide comprisingcontacting a test compound with a PRO polypeptide under conditions andfor a time sufficient to allow the test compound and polypeptide tointeract and determining whether the activity of the PRO polypeptide isinhibited. In a specific preferred aspect, either the test compound orthe PRO polypeptide is immobilized on a solid support In anotherpreferred aspect, the non-immobilized component carries a detectablelabel. In a preferred aspect, this method comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) contacting cells and a test compound to be screened in the        presence of a PRO polypeptide under conditions suitable for the        induction of a cellular response normally induced by a PRO        polypeptide; and    -   (b) determining the induction of said cellular response to        determine if the test compound is an effective antagonist.

In another preferred aspect, this process comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) contacting cells and a test compound to be screened in the        presence of a PRO polypeptide under conditions suitable for the        stimulation of cell proliferation by a PRO polypeptide; and    -   (b) measuring the proliferation of the cells to determine if the        test compound is an effective antagonist.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for identifying acompound that inhibits the expression of a PRO polypeptide in cells thatnormally expresses the polypeptide, wherein the method comprisescontacting the cells with a test compound and determining whether theexpression of the PRO polypeptide is inhibited. In a preferred aspect,this method comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) contacting cells and a test compound to be screened under        conditions suitable for allowing expression of the PRO        polypeptide; and    -   (b) determining the inhibition of expression of said        polypeptide.

In a still further embodiment, the invention provides a compound thatinhibits the expression of a PRO polypeptide, such as a compound that isidentified by the methods set forth above.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an agonist or anantagonist of a PRO polypeptide which may optionally be identified bythe methods described above.

One type of antagonist of a PRO polypeptide that inhibits one or more ofthe functions or activities of the PRO polypeptide is an antibody.Hence, in another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibodythat binds a PRO polypeptide. In a preferred aspect, the antibody is amonoclonal antibody, which preferably has non-humancomplementarity-determining-region (CDR) residues and humanframework-region (PR) residues. The antibody may be labeled and may beimmobilized on a solid support. In a further aspect, the antibody is anantibody fragment, a single-chain antibody, a human antibody or ahumanized antibody. Preferably, the antibody specifically binds to thepolypeptide. Antibodies of the present invention may optionally beconjugated to a growth inhibitory agent or cytotoxic agent such as atoxin, including, for example, a maytansinoid or calicheamicin, anantibiotic, a radioactive isotope, a nucleotlytic enzyme, or the like.The antibodies of the present invention may optionally be produced inCHO cells or bacterial cells and preferably induce death of a cell towhich it binds. For diagnostic purposes, the antibodies of the presentinvention may be detectably labeled.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method fordiagnosing a disease or susceptibility to a disease which is related toa mutation in a PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequencecomprising determining the presence or absence of said mutation in thePRO polypeptide nucleic acid sequence, wherein the presence or absenceof said mutation is indicative of the presence of said disease orsusceptibility to said disease.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a method of diagnosingan IBD in a mammal which comprises analyzing the level of expression ofa gene encoding a PRO polypeptide (aj in a test sample of tissue cells(e.g., colon cells) obtained from said mammal, and (b) in a controlsample of known normal tissue cells of the same cell type, wherein ahigher or lower expression level in the test sample as compared to thecontrol sample is indicative of the presence of an IBD in said mammal.The expression of a gene encoding a PRO polypeptide may optionally beaccomplished by measuring the level of MRNA or the polypeptide in thetest sample as compared to the control sample.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method ofdiagnosing an IBD in a mammal which comprises detecting the presence orabsence of a PRO polypeptide in a test sample of tissue cells (e.g.,colon cells) obtained from said mammal, wherein the presence or absenceof said PRO polypeptide in said test sample is indicative of thepresence of an IBD in said mammal.

In a still further embodiment, the invention provides a method ofdiagnosing an IBD in a mammal comprising (a) contacting an anti-PROantibody with a test sample of tissue cells (e.g., colon cells) obtainedfrom the mammal, and (b) detecting the formation of a complex betweenthe antibody and the PRO polypeptide in the test sample, wherein theformation of said complex is indicative of the presence of a, IBD in themammal. The detection may be qualitative or quantitative, and may beperformed in comparison with monitoring the complex formation in acontrol sample of known normal tissue cells of the same cell type. Alarger or smaller quantity of complexes formed in the test sampleindicates the presence of an IBD in the mammal from which the testtissue cells were obtained. The antibody preferably carries a detectablelabel. Complex formation can be monitored, for example, by lightmicroscopy, flow cytometry, fluorimetry or other techniques known in theart. The test sample is usually obtained from an individual suspected tohave an IBD.

In another embodiment, the inventionprovides a method for determiningthe presence of a PRO polypeptide in a sample comprising exposing asample suspected of containing the PRO polypeptide to an anti-PROantibody and determining binding of said antibody to a component of saidsample. In a specific aspect, the sample comprises a cell suspected ofcontaining the PRO polypeptide and the antibody binds to the cell. Theantibody is preferably detectably labeled and/or bound to a solidsupport

In further aspects, the invention provides an IBD diagnostic kitcomprising an anti-PRO antibody and a carrier in suitable packaging.Preferably, such kit further comprises instructions for using saidantibody to detect the presence of the PRO polypeptide. Preferably, thecarrier is a buffer, for example. Preferably, the IBD is Crohn's diseaseor ulcerative cholitis.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method fortreating an IBD in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal aneffective amount of a PRO polypeptide. Preferably, the disorder isCrohn's disease or ulcerative cholitis. Preferably, the mammal is human,preferably one who is at risk of developing an IBD.

In another preferred embodiment, the PRO polypeptide is administered incombination with a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent ora cytotoxic agent

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating anIBD in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effectiveamount of a PRO polypeptide agonist, antagonist or anti-PRO antibody.Preferably, the IBD is Crohn's disease or ulcerative cholitis. Alsopreferred is where the mammal is human, and where an effective amount ofa chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent or a cytotoxic agentis administered in conjunction with the agonist, antagonist or anti-PROantibody.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a methodof therapeutically treating a PRO polypeptide-expressing cell in amammal with an IBD, wherein the method comprises administering to themammal a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that binds tothe PRO polypeptide, thereby resulting in the effective therapeutictreatment of the IBD. Optionally, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody,antibody fragment, chimeric antibody, human antibody, humanized antibodyor single-chain antibody. Antibodies employed in the methods of thepresent invention may optionally be conjugated to a growth inhibitoryagent or cytotoxic agent such as a toxin, including, for example, amaytansinoid or calicheamicin, an antibiotic, a radioactive isotope, anucleodytic enzyme, or the like. The antibodies employed in the methodsof the present invention may optionally be produced in CHO cells orbacterial cells.

In still further embodiments, the invention provides a method fortreating an IBD in a mammal that suffers therefrom comprisingadministering to the mammal a nucleic acid molecule that codes foreither (a) a PRO polypeptide, (b) an agonist of a PRO polypeptide or (c)an antagonist of a PRO polypeptide, wherein said agonist or antagonistmay be an anti-PRO antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the mammal ishuman. In another preferred embodiment, the gene is administered via exvivo gene therapy. In a further preferred embodiment, the gene iscomprised within a vector, more preferably an adenoviral,adeno-associated viral, lentiviral, or retroviral vector.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant retroviralparticle comprising aretroviral vector consisting essentially of apromoter, nucleic acid encoding (a) a PRO polypeptide, (b) an agonistpolypeptide of a PRO polypeptide, or (c) an antagonist polypeptide of aPRO polypeptide, and a signal sequence for cellular secretion of thepolypeptide, wherein the retroviral vector is in association withretroviral structural proteins. Preferably, the signal sequence is froma mammal, such as from a native PRO polypeptide.

In a still further embodiment, the invention supplies an ex vivoproducer cell comprising a nucleic acid construct that expressesretroviral structural proteins and also comprises a retroviaal vectorconsisting essentially of a promoter, nucleic acid encoding (a) a PROpolypeptide, (b) an agonist polypeptide of a PRO polypeptide or (c) anantagonist polypeptide of a PRO polypeptide, and a signal sequence forcellular secretion of the polypeptide, wherein said producer cellpackages the retroviral vector in association with the structuralproteins to produce recombinant retroviral particles.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the invention provides anisolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence thatencodes a PRO polypeptide.

In one aspect, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotidesequence having at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%,88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98%, nucleic acidsequence identity and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acidsequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule encoding a PRO polypeptidehaving a full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, an aminoacid sequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, anextracellular domain of a transmembrane protein, with or without thesignal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other specifically definedfragment of the full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, or(b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).

In other aspects, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises anucleotide sequence having at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%,86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97% or 98%nucleic acid sequence identity and alternatively at least about 99%nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) a DNA molecule comprising thecoding sequence of a full-length PRO polypeptide cDNA as disclosedherein, the coding sequence of a PRO polypeptide lacking the signalpeptide as disclosed herein, the coding sequence of an extracellulardomain of a transmembrane PRO polypeptide, with or without the signalpeptide, as disclosed herein or the coding sequence of any otherspecifically defined fragment of the full-length amino acid sequence asdisclosed herein, or (b) the complement of the DNA molecule of (a).

In a further aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least about 80%,81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%,95%, 96%, 97% or 98% nucleic acid sequence identity and alternatively atleast about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) a DNA moleculethat encodes the same mature polypeptide encoded by any of the humanprotein cDNAs deposited with the ATCC as disclosed herein, or (b) thecomplement of the DNA molecule of (a).

Another aspect of the present invention provides an isolated nucleicacid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a PROpolypeptide which is either transmembrane domain-deleted ortransmembrane domain-inactivated, or is complementary to such encodingnucleotide sequence, wherein the transmembrane domain(s) of suchpolypeptide are disclosed herein. Therefore, soluble extracellulardomains of the herein described PRO polypeptides are contemplated.

In other aspects, the present invention is directed to isolated nucleicacid molecules which hybridize to (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding aPRO polypeptide having a full-length amino acid sequence as disclosedherein, a PRO polypeptide amino acid sequence lacking the signal peptideas disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a transmembrane PROpolypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein orany other specifically defined fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptideamino acid sequence as disclosed herein, or (b) the complement of thenucleotide sequence of (a). In this regard, an embodiment of the presentinvention is directed to fragments of a full-length PRO polypeptidecoding sequence, or the complement thereof, as disclosed herein, thatmay find use as, for example, hybridization probes useful as, forexample, diagnostic probes, antisense oligonucleotide probes, or forencoding fragments of a full-length PRO polypeptide that may optionallyencode a polypeptide comprising a binding site for an anti-PROpolypeptide antibody. Such nucleic acid fragments are usually at leastabout 5 nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100,105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170,175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280,290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420,430, 440, 450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560,570, 580, 590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700,710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840,850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980,990, or 1000 nucleotides in length, wherein in this context the term“about” means the referenced nucleotide sequence length plus or minus10% of that referenced length. It is noted that novel fragments of a PROpolypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence may be determined in a routinemanner by aligning the PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence withother known nucleotide sequences using any of a number of well knownsequence alignment programs and determining which PROpolypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequence fragment(s) are novel. All ofsuch novel fragments of PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequencesare contemplated herein. Also contemplated are the PRO polypeptidefragments encoded by these nucleotide molecule fragments, preferablythose PRO polypeptide fragments that comprise a binding site for ananti-PRO antibody.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated PROpolypeptide encoded by any of the isolated nucleic acid sequenceshereinabove identified.

In a certain aspect, the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptidecomprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80%, 81%, 82%,83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,97% or 98% amino acid sequence identity and alternatively at least about99% amino acid sequence identity to a PRO polypeptide having afull-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein, an amino acidsequence lacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, anextracellular domain of a transmembrane protein, with or without thesignal peptide, as disclosed herein or any other specifically definedfragment of the full-length amino acid sequence as disclosed herein.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptidecomprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80%, 81%, 82%,83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,97% or 98% amino acid sequence identity and alternatively at least about99% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence encoded byany of the human protein cDNAs deposited with the ATCC as disclosedherein.

In a specific aspect, the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptidewithout the N-terminal signal sequence and/or the initiating methionineand that is encoded by a nucleotide sequence that encodes such an aminoacid sequence as hereinbefore described. Processes for producing thesame are also herein described, wherein those processes compriseculturing a host cell comprising a vector which comprises theappropriate encoding nucleic acid molecule under conditions suitable forexpression of the PRO polypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptidefrom the cell culture.

Another aspect of the invention provides an isolated PRO polypeptidewhich is either transmembrane domain-deleted or transmembranedomain-inactivated. Processes for producing the same are also hereindescribed, wherein those processes comprise culturing a host cellcomprising a vector which comprises the appropriate encoding nucleicacid molecule under conditions suitable for expression of the PROpolypeptide and recovering the PRO polypeptide from the cell culture.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides agonists andantagonists of a native PRO polypeptide as defined herein. In aparticular embodiment, the agonist or antagonist is an anti-PRO antibodyor a small molecule.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifyingagonists or antagonists to a PRO polypeptide which comprise contactingthe PRO polypeptide with a candidate molecule and monitoring abiological activity mediated by said PRO polypeptide. Preferably, thePRO polypeptide is a native PRO polypeptide.

In a still further embodiment, the invention provides a composition ofmatter comprising a PRO polypeptide, or an agonist or antagonist of aPRO polypeptide as herein described, or an anti-PRO antibody, incombination with a carrier. Optionally, the carrier is apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of aPRO polypeptide, or an agonist or antagonist thereof as hereinbeforedescribed, or an anti-PRO antibody, for the preparation of a medicamentuseful in the treatment of a condition which is responsive to the PROpolypeptide, an agonist or antagonist thereof or an anti-PRO antibody.

In additional embodiments of the present invention, the inventionprovides vectors comprising DNA encoding any of the herein describedpolypeptides. Host cells comprising any such vector are also provided.By way of example, the host cells may be CHO cells, E. coli, yeast, orBaculovirus-infected insect cells. A process for producing any of theherein described polypeptides is further provided and comprisesculturing host cells under conditions suitable for expression of thedesired polypeptide and recovering the desired polypeptide from the cellculture.

In other embodiments, the invention provides chimeric moleculescomprising any of the herein described polypeptides fused to aheterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence. Example of suchchimeric molecules comprise any of the herein described polypeptidesfused to an epitope tag sequence or a Fc region of an immunoglobulin.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody whichspecifically binds to any of the above or below described polypeptides.Optionally, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, human antibody,humanized antibody, antibody fragment or single-chain antibody.

In yet other embodiments, the invention provides oligonucleotide probesuseful for isolating genomic and cDNA nucleotide sequences or asantisense probes, wherein those probes may be derived from any of theabove or below described nucleotide sequences.

Further embodiments of the present invention will be evident to theskilled artisan upon a reading of the present specification.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) designated herein as“DNA32279”.

FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) designated herein as“DNA33085”.

FIG. 4 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) designated herein as“DNA33457”.

FIG. 6 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) designated herein as“DNA33461”.

FIG. 8 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:9) designated herein as“DNA33785”.

FIG. 10 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:11) designated herein as“DNA36725”.

FIG. 12 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:11 shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:13) designated herein as“DNA40576”.

FIG. 14A-B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:15) designated herein as“DNA51786”.

FIG. 16 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:16) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:15 shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:17) designated herein as“DNA52594”.

FIG. 18 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:18) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:19) designated herein as“DNA59776”.

FIG. 20 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:20) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:21) designated herein as“DNA62377”.

FIG. 22 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:22) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:21 shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:23) designated herein as“DNA64882”.

FIG. 24 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:24) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:23 shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:25) designated herein as“DNA69553”.

FIG. 26 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:26) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:25 shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:27) designated herein as“DNA77509”.

FIG. 28 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:28) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:29) designated herein as“DNA77512”.

FIG. 30 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:30) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:31) designated herein as“DNA81752”.

FIG. 32 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:32) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:31 shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:33) designated herein as“DNA82305”.

FIG. 34 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:34) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:33 shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ED NO:35) designated herein as“DNA82352”.

FIG. 36 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:36) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:35 shown in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:37) designated herein as“DNA87994”.

FIG. 38 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:38) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:37 shown in FIG. 37.

FIG. 39A-B shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:39) designated hereinas “DNA88417”.

FIG. 40A-B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:40) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:39 shown in FIG. 39A-B.

FIG. 41 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:41) designated herein as“DNA88432”.

FIG. 42A-B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:42) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:41 shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:43) designated herein as“DNA92247”.

FIG. 44 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:44) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:43 shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:45) designated herein as“DNA95930”.

FIG. 46 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:46) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:45 shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:47) designated herein as“DNA99331”.

FIG. 48 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:48) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:47 shown in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) designated herein as“DNA101222”.

FIG. 50 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:50) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:49 shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:51) designated herein as“DNA102850”.

FIG. 52 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:52) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:51 shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 53 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:53) designated herein as“DNA105792”.

FIG. 54 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:54) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:53 shown in FIG. 53.

FIG. 55 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:55) designated herein as“DNA107429”.

FIG. 56 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:56) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:55 shown in FIG. 55.

FIG. 57 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:57) designated herein as“DNA145582”.

FIG. 58 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:58) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 shown in FIG. 57.

FIG. 59 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:59) designated herein as“DNA165608”.

FIG. 60 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:60) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:59 shown in FIG. 59.

FIG. 61 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:61) designated herein as“DNA166819”.

FIG. 62 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:62) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:61 shown in FIG. 61.

FIG. 63 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:63) designated herein as“DNA168061”.

FIG. 64 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:64) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:63 shown in FIG. 63.

FIG. 65 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:65) designated herein as“DNA171372”.

FIG. 66 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:66) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:65 shown in FIG. 65.

FIG. 67 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:67) designated herein as“DNA188175”.

FIG. 68 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:68) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:67 shown in FIG. 67.

FIG. 69 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:69) designated herein as“DNA188182”.

FIG. 70 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:70) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:69 shown in FIG. 69.

FIG. 71 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:71) designated herein as“DNA188200”.

FIG. 72 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:72) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:71 shown in FIG. 71.

FIG. 73 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:73) designated herein as“DNA188203”.

FIG. 74 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:74) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:73 shown in FIG. 73.

FIG. 75 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:75) designated herein as“DNA188205”.

FIG. 76 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:76) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:75 shown in FIG. 75.

FIG. 77 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:77) designated herein as“DNA188244”.

FIG. 78 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:78) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:77 shown in FIG. 77.

FIG. 79 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:79) designated herein as“DNA188270”.

FIG. 80 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:80) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:79 shown in FIG. 79.

FIG. 81 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:81) designated herein as“DNA188277”.

FIG. 82 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:82) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:81 shown in FIG. 81.

FIG. 83 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:83) designated herein as“DNA188278”.

FIG. 84 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:84) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:83 shown in FIG. 83.

FIG. 85 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:85) designated herein as“DNA188287”.

FIG. 86 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:86) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:85 shown in FIG. 85.

FIG. 87A-B shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:87) designated hereinas “DNA188302”.

FIG. 88A-B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:88) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:87 shown in FIG. 87A-B.

FIG. 89 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:89) designated herein as“DNA188332”.

FIG. 90 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:90) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:89 shown in FIG. 89.

FIG. 91 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:91) designated herein as“DNA188339”.

FIG. 92 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:22) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:91 shown in FIG. 91.

FIG. 93 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:93) designated herein as“DNA188340”.

FIG. 94 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:94) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:93 shown in FIG. 93.

FIG. 95 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:95) designated herein as“DNA188355”.

FIG. 96 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:96) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:95 shown in FIG. 95.

FIG. 97 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:97) designated herein as“DNA188425“.

FIG. 98 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:98) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:97 shown in FIG. 97.

FIG. 99 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:99) designated herein as“DNA188448”.

FIG. 100 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 100) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:99 shown in FIG. 99.

FIG. 101 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:101) designated hereinas “DNA194566”.

FIG. 102 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:102) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:101 shown in FIG. 101.

FIG. 103 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:103) designated hereinas “DNA199788”.

FIG. 104 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:104) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:103 shown in FIG. 103.

FIG. 105 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:105) designated hereinas “DNA200227”.

FIG. 106 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:106) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:105 shown in FIG. 105.

FIG. 107 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:107) designated hereinas “DNA27865”.

FIG. 108 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:108) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:107 shown in FIG. 107.

FIG. 109 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:109) designated hereinas “DNA33094”.

FIG. 110 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:110) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:110 shown in FIG. 110.

FIG. 111 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:111) designated hereinas “DNA45416”.

FIG. 112 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:112) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:111 shown in FIG. 111.

FIG. 113 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:113) designated hereinas “DNA48328”.

FIG. 114 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:114) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:113 shown in FIG. 113.

FIG. 115 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:115) designated hereinas “DNA50960”.

FIG. 116 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:116) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:105 shown in FIG. 105.

FIG. 117 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:117) designated hereinas “DNA80896”.

FIG. 118 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:118) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:117 shown in FIG. 117.

FIG. 119 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:119) designated hereinas “DNA82319”.

FIG. 120 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:120) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:119 shown in FIG. 119.

FIG. 121 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:121) designated hereinas “DNA82352”.

FIG. 122 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:122) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:121 shown in FIG. 121.

FIG. 123 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:123) designated hereinas “DNA82363”.

FIG. 124 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:124) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:123 shown in FIG. 123.

FIG. 125 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:125) designated hereinas “DNA82368”.

FIG. 126 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:126) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:125 shown in FIG. 125.

FIG. 127 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:127) designated hereinas “DNA83103”.

FIG. 128 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:128) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:127 shown in FIG. 127.

FIG. 129 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:129) designated hereinas “DNA83500”.

FIG. 130 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:130) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:129 shown in FIG. 129.

FIG. 131 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:131) designated hereinas “DNA88002”.

FIG. 132 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:132) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:131 shown in FIG. 131.

FIG. 133 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:133) designated hereinas “DNA92282”.

FIG. 134 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:134) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:133 shown in FIG. 133.

FIG. 135 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:135) designated hereinas “DNA96934”.

FIG. 136 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:136) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:135 shown in FIG. 135.

FIG. 137 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:137) designated hereinas “DNA96943”.

FIG. 138 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:138) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:137 shown in FIG. 137.

FIG. 139 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:139) designated hereinas “DNA97005”.

FIG. 140 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:140) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:139 shown in FIG. 139.

FIG. 141 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:141) designated hereinas “DNA98553”.

FIG. 142 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:142) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:141 shown in FIG. 141.

FIG. 143 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:143) designated hereinas “DNA102845”.

FIG. 144 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:144) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:143 shown in FIG. 143.

FIG. 145 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:145) designated hereinas “DNA108715”.

FIG. 146 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:146) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:145 shown in FIG. 145.

FIG. 147 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:147) designated hereinas “DNA108735”.

FIG. 148 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:148) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:147 shown in FIG. 147.

FIG. 149 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:149) designated hereinas “DNA164455”.

FIG. 150 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:150) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:149 shown in FIG. 149.

FIG. 151 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:151) designated hereinas “DNA188178”.

FIG. 152 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:152) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:151 shown in FIG. 151.

FIG. 153 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:153) designated hereinas “DNA188271”.

FIG. 154 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:154) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:153 shown in FIG. 153.

FIG. 155 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:155) designated hereinas “DNA188338”.

FIG. 156 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:156) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:155 shown in FIG. 155.

FIG. 157 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:157) designated hereinas “DNA188342”.

FIG. 158 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:158) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:157 shown in FIG. 157.

FIG. 159 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:159) designated hereinas “DNA188427”.

FIG. 160A-B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:160) derived fromthe coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:159 shown in FIG. 159.

FIG. 161 shows a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:161) designated hereinas “DNA195011”.

FIG. 162 shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:162) derived from thecoding sequence of SEQ ID NO:161 shown in FIG. 161.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 5.1. Definitions

The term “inflammatory bowel disorder” or “IBD” as used herein, refersto any chronic disorder in which any portion of the intestine (bowel)becomes inflamed and/or ulcerated. Examples of IBD include, but are notlimited to, Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.

The terms “PRO polypeptide” and “PRO” as used herein and whenimmediately followed by a numerical designation refer to variouspolypeptides, wherein the complete designation (i.e., PRO/number) refersto specific polypeptide sequences as described herein. The terms“PRO/number polypeptide” and “PRO/number” wherein the term “number” isprovided as an actual numerical designation as used herein encompassnative sequence polypeptides and polypeptide variants (which are furtherdefined herein). The PRO polypeptides described herein may be isolatedfrom a variety of sources, such as from human tissue types or fromanother source, or prepared by recombinant or synthetic methods.

A “native sequence PRO polypeptide” comprises a polypeptide having thesame amino acid sequence as the corresponding PRO polypeptide derivedfrom nature. Such native sequence PRO polypeptides can be isolated fromnature or can be produced by recombinant or synthetic means. The term“native sequence PRO polypeptide” specifically encompassesnaturally-occurring truncated or secreted forms of the specific PROpolypeptide (e.g., an extracelular domain sequence), naturally-occurringvariant forms (e.g., alternatively spliced forms) andnaturally-occurring allelic variants of the polypeptide. In certainembodiments of the invention, the native sequence PRO polypeptidesdisclosed herein are mature or full-length native sequence polypeptidescomprising the full-length amino acids sequences shown in theaccompanying figures. Start and stop codons (if indicated) are shown inbold font and underlined in the figures. Nucleic acid residues indicatedas “N” in the accompanying figures are any nucleic acid residue.However, while the PRO polypeptides disclosed in the accompanyingfigures are shown to begin with methionine residues designated herein asamino acid position 1 in the figures, it is conceivable and possiblethat other methionine residues located either upstream or downstreamfrom the amino acid position 1 in the figures may be employed as thestarting amino acid residue for the PRO polypeptides.

The PRO polypeptide “extracellular domain” or “ECD” refers to a form ofthe PRO polypeptide which is essentially free of the transmembrane andcytoplasmic domains. Ordinarily, a PRO polypeptideECD will have lessthan 1% of such transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domains and preferably,will have less than 0.5% of such domains. It will be understood that anytransmembrane domains identified for the PRO polypeptides of the presentinvention are identified pursuant to criteria routinely employed in theart for identifying that type of hydrophobic domain. The exactboundaries of a transmembrane domain may vary but most likely by no morethan about 5 amino acids at either end of the domain as initiallyidentified herein. Optionally, therefore, an extracellular domain of aPRO polypeptide may contain from about 5 or fewer amino acids on eitherside of the transmembrane domain/extracellular domain boundary asidentified in the Examples or specification and such polypeptides, withor without the associated signal peptide, and nucleic acid encodingthem, are contemplated by the present invention.

The approximate location of the “signal peptides” of the various PROpolypeptides disclosed herein may be shown in the present specificationand/or the accompanying figures. It is noted, however, that theC-terminal boundary of a signal peptide may vary, but most likely by nomore than about 5 amino acids on either side of the signal peptideC-terminal boundary as initially identified herein, wherein theC-terminal boundary of the signal peptide may be identified pursuant tocriteria routinely employed in the art for identifying that type ofamino acid sequenceelement (e.g., Nielsen et al., Prot. Eng. 10:1-6(1997) and von Heinje et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 14:4683-4690 (1986)).Moreover, it is also recognized that, in some cases, cleavage of asignal sequence from a secreted polypeptide is not entirely uniform,resulting in more than one secreted species. These mature polypeptides,where the signal peptide is cleaved within no more than about 5 aminoacids on either side of the C-terminal boundary of the signal peptide asidentified herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them, arecontemplated by the present invention.

“PRO polypeptide variant” means a PRO polypeptide, preferably an activePRO polypeptide, as defined herein having at least about 80% amino acidsequence identity with a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptidesequence as disclosed herein, a PRO polypeptide sequence lacking thesignal peptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PROpolypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosed herein orany other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequence asdisclosed herein (such as those encoded by a nucleic acid thatrepresents only a portion of the complete coding sequence for afull-length PRO polypeptide). Such PRO polypeptide variants include, forinstance, PRO polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues areadded, or deleted, at the - or C-terminus of the full-length nativeamino acid sequence. Ordinarily, a PRO polypeptide variant will have atleast about 80% amino acid sequence identity, alternatively at leastabout 81%, 82%, 83%, 84, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%,94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% amino acid sequence identity, to afull-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosedherein, a PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signal peptide asdisclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PRO polypeptide, with orwithout the signal peptide, as disclosed herein or any otherspecifically defined fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequenceas disclosed herein. Ordinarily, PRO variant polypeptides are at leastabout 10 amino acids in length, alternatively at least about 20, 30, 40,50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190,200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330,340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460, 470,480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600 aminoacids in length, or more.

“Percent (%) amino acid sequenceidentity” with respect to the PROpolypeptide sequences identified herein is defined as the percentage ofamino acid residues in a candidate sequence that are identical with theamino acid residues in the specific PRO polypeptide sequence, afteraligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achievethe maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering anyconservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignmentfor purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can beachieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, forinstance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST,BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the artcan determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, includingany algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full lengthof the sequences being compared. For purposes herein, however, % aminoacid sequence identity values are generated using the sequencecomparison computer program ALIGN-2, wherein the complete source codefor the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2sequence comparison computer program was authored by Genentech, Inc. andthe source code shown in Table 1 below has been filed with userdocumentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559,where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.The ALIGN-2 program is publicly available through Genentech, Inc., SouthSan Francisco, Calif. or may be compiled from the source code providedin Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on aUNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V4.0D. All sequencecomparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.

In situations where ALIGN-2 is employed for amino acid sequencecomparisons, the % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acidsequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B (which canalternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has orcomprises a certain % amino acid sequence identity to, with, or againsta given amino acid sequence B) is calculated as follows:100 times the fraction X/Ywhere X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matchesby the sequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment ofA and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in B. Itwill be appreciated that where the length of amino acid sequence A isnot equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the % amino acidsequence identity of A to B will not equal the % amino acid sequenceidentity of B to A. As examples of % amino acid sequence identitycalculations using this method, Tables 2 and 3 demonstrate how tocalculate the % amino acid sequence identity of the amino acid sequencedesignated “Comparison Protein” to the amino acid sequence designated“PRO”, wherein “PRO” represents the amino acid sequence of ahypothetical PRO polypeptide of interest, “Comparison Protein”represents the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide against which the“PRO” polypeptide of interest is being compared, and “X, “Y” and “Z”each represent different hypothetical amino acid residues. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise, all % amino acid sequence identity valuesused herein are obtained as described in the immediately precedingparagraph using the ALIGN-2 computer program.

“PRO variantpolynucleotide” or “PRO variant nucleic acid sequence” meansa nucleic acid molecule which encodes a PRO polypeptide, preferably anactive PRO polypeptide, as defined herein and which has at least about80% nucleic acid sequence identity with a nucleotide acid sequenceencoding a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence asdisclosed herein, a full-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequencelacking the signal peptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domainof a PRO polypeptide, with or without the signal peptide, as disclosedherein or any other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequenceas disclosed herein (such as those encoded by a nucleic acid thatrepresents only a portion of the complete coding sequence for afull-length PRO polypeptide). Ordinarily, a PRO variant polynucleotidewill have at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity,alternatively at least about 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%,89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% nucleic acidsequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fill-lengthnative sequence PRO polypeptide sequence as disclosed herein, afull-length native sequence PRO polypeptide sequence lacking the signalpeptide as disclosed herein, an extracellular domain of a PROpolypeptide, with or without the signal sequence, as disclosed herein orany other fragment of a full-length PRO polypeptide sequence asdisclosed herein. Variants do not encompass the native nucleotidesequence.

Ordinarily, PRO variant polynucleotides are at least about 5 nucleotidesin length, alternatively at least about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40,45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120,125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190,195, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320,330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460,470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580, 590, 600,610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720, 730, 740,750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880,890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, or 1000nucleotides in length, wherein in this context the term “about” meansthe referenced nucleotide sequence length plus or minus 10% of thatreferenced length.

“Percent (%) nucleic acid sequence identity” with respect toPRO-encoding nucleic acid sequences identified herein is defined as thepercentage of nucleotides in a candidate sequence that are identicalwith the nucleotides in the PRO nucleic acid sequence of interest, afteraligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achievethe maximum percent sequence identity. Alignment for purposes ofdetermining percent nucleic acid sequence identity can be achieved invarious ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, usingpublicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN orMegalign (DNASTAR) software. For purposes herein, however, % nucleicacid sequence identity values are generated using the sequencecomparison computer program ALIGN-2, wherein the complete source codefor the ALIGN-2 program is provided in Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2sequence comparison computerprogram was authored by Genentech, Inc. andthe source code shown in Table 1 below has been filed with userdocumentation in the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington D.C., 20559,where it is registered under U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXU510087.The ALIGN-2program ispublicly available through Genentech, Inc., SouthSan Francisco, Calif. or may be compiled from the source code providedin Table 1 below. The ALIGN-2 program should be compiled for use on aUNIX operating system, preferably digital UNIX V40.D. All sequencecomparison parameters are set by the ALIGN-2 program and do not vary.

In situations where ALIGN-2 is employed for nucleic acid sequencecomparisons, the % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleicacid sequence C to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D(which can alternatively be phrased as a given nucleic acid sequence Cthat has or comprises a certain % nucleic acid sequence identity to,with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D) is calculated asfollows:100 times the fraction W/Zwhere W is the number of nucleotides scored as identical matches by thesequence alignment program ALIGN-2 in that program's alignment of C andD, and where Z is the total number of nucleotides in D. It will beappreciated that where the length of nucleic acid sequence C is notequal to the length of nucleic acid sequence D, the % nucleic acidsequence identity of C to D will not equal the % nucleic acid sequenceidentity of D to C. As examples of % nucleic acid sequence identitycalculations, Tables 4 and 5, demonstrate how to calculate the % nucleicacid sequence identity of the nucleic acid sequence designated“Comparison DNA” to the nucleic acid sequence designated “PRO-DNA”,wherein “PRO-DNA” represents a hypothetical PRO-encoding nucleic acidsequence of interest, “Comparison DNA” represents the nucleotidesequence of a nucleic acid molecule against which the “PRO-DNA” nucleicacid molecule of interest is being compared, and “N”, “L” and “V” eachrepresent different hypothetical nucleotides. Unless specifically statedotherwise, all % nucleic acid sequence identity values used herein areobtained as described in the immediately preceding paragraph using theALIGN-2 computer program.

In other embodiments, PRO variant polynucleotides are nucleic acidmolecules that encode a PRO polypeptide and which are capable ofhybridizing, preferably under stringent hybridization and washconditions, to nucleotide sequences encoding a full-length PROpolypeptide as disclosed herein. PRO variant polypeptides may be thosethat are encoded by a PRO variant polynucleotide.

“Isolated,” when used to describe the various polypeptides disclosedherein, means polypeptide that has been identified and separated and/orrecovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminantcomponents of its natural environment are materials that would typicallyinterfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, andmay include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous ornon-proteinaceous solutes. In preferred embodiments, the polypeptidewill be purified (1) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of aspinning cup sequenator, or (2) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE undernon-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably,silver stain. Isolated polypeptide includes polypeptide in situ withinrecombinant cells, since at least one component of the PRO polypeptidenatural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, however, isolatedpolypeptide will be prepared by at least one purification step.

An “isolated” PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or otherpolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid is a nucleic acid molecule that isidentified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acidmolecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source ofthe polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid. An isolated polypeptide-encodingnucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting in which itis found in nature. Isolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid moleculestherefore are distinguished from the specific polypeptide-encodingnucleic acid molecule as it exists in natural cells. However, anisolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule includespolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules contained in cells thatordinarily express the polypeptide where, for example, the nucleic acidmolecule is in a chromosomal location different from that of naturalcells.

The term “control sequences” refers to DNA sequences necessary for theexpression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular hostorganism. The control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes, forexample, include a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and aribosome binding site. Eukaryotic cells are known to utilize promoters,polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.

Nucleic acid is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functionalrelationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNA for apresequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for apolypeptide if it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in thesecretion of the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linkedto a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; ora ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it ispositioned so as to facilitate translation. Generally, “operably linked”means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in thecase of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However,enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is accomplished byligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist,the synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used in accordancewith conventional practice.

“Stringency” of hybridization reactions is readily determinable by oneof ordinary skill in the art, and generally is an empirical calculationdependent upon probe length, washing temperature, and saltconcentration. In general, longer probes require higher temperatures forproper annealing, while shorter probes need lower temperatures.Hybridization generally depends on the ability of denatured DNA toreanneal when complementary strands are present in an environment belowtheir melting temperature. The higher the degree of desired homologybetween the probe and hybridizable sequence, the higher the relativetemperature which can be used. As a result, it follows that higherrelative temperatures would tend to make the reaction conditions morestringent, while lower temperatures less so. For additional details andexplanation of stringency of hybridization reactions, see Ausubel etal., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley IntersciencePublishers, (1995).

“Stringent conditions” or “high stringency conditions”, as definedherein, may be identified by those that: (1) employ low ionic strengthand high temperature for washing, for example 0.015 M sodiumchloride/0.0015 M sodium citrate/0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50° C.;(2) employ during hybridization a denaturing agent, such as formamide,for example, 50% (v/v) formamide with 0.1% bovine serum albumin/0.1%Ficoll/0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone/50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.5with 750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C.; or (3)employ 50% formamide, 5×SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 0.075 M sodium citrate), 50 nMsodium phosphate(pH 6.8), 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 5×Denhardt'ssolution, sonicated salmon spermDNA (50 μg/ml), 0.1% SDS, and10% dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2×SSC (sodiumchloride/sodium citrate) and 50% formamide at 55° C., followed by ahigh-stringency wash consisting of 0.1×SSC containing EDTA at 55° C.

“Moderately stringent conditions” may be identified as described bySambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, New York: ColdSpring Harbor Press, 1989, and include the use of washing solution andhybridization conditions (e.g., temperature, ionic strength and % SDS)less stringent that those described above. An example of moderatelystringent conditions is overnight incubation at 37° C. in a solutioncomprising: 20% formamide, 5×SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate),50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextransulfate, and 20 mg/ml denatured sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed bywashing the filters in 1×SSC at about 37-50° C. The skilled artisan willrecognize how to adjust the temperature, ionic strength, etc. asnecessary to accommodate factors such as probe length and the like.

The term “epitope tagged” when used herein refers to a chimericpolypeptide comprising a PRO polypeptide or anti-PRO antibody fused to a“tag polypeptide”. The tag polypeptide has enough residues to provide anepitope against which an antibody can be made, yet is short enough suchthat it does not interfere with activity of the polypeptide to which itis fused. The tag polypeptide preferably also is fairly unique so thatthe antibody does not substantially cross-react with other epitopes.Suitable tag polypeptides generally have at least six amino acidresidues and usually between about 8 and 50 amino acid residues(preferably, between about 10 and 20 amino acid residues).

“Active” or “activity” for the purposes herein refers to form(s) of aPRO polypeptide which retain a biological and/or an immunologicalactivity of native or naturally-occurring PRO, wherein “biological”activity refers to a biological function (either inhibitory orstimulatory) caused by a native or naturally-occurring PRO other thanthe ability to induce the production of an antibody against an antigenicepitope possessed by a native or naturally-occurring PRO and an“immunological” activity refers to the ability to induce the productionof an antibody against an antigenic epitope possessed by a native ornaturally-occurring PRO.

“Biological activity” in the context of a molecule that antagonizes aPRO polypeptide that can be identified by the screening assays disclosedherein (e.g., an organic or inorganic small molecule, peptide, etc.) isused to refer to the ability of such molecules to bind or complex withthe PRO polypeptide identified herein, or otherwise interfere with theinteraction of the PRO polypeptide with other cellular proteins orotherwise inhibits the transcription or translation of the PROpolypeptide.

The term “antagonist” is used in the broadest sense, and includes anymolecule that partially or fully blocks, inhibits, or neutralizes abiological activity of a native PRO polypeptide disclosed herein. In asimilar manner, the term “agonist” is used in the broadest sense andincludes any molecule that mimics a biological activity of a native PROpolypeptide disclosed herein. Suitable agonist or antagonist moleculesspecifically include agonist or antagonist antibodies or antibodyfragments, fragments or amino acid sequence variants of native PROpolypeptides, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides, small organicmolecules, etc. Methods for identifying agonists or antagonists of a PROpolypeptide may comprise contacting a PRO polypeptide with a candidateagonist or antagonist molecule and measuring a detectable change in oneor more biological activities normally associated with the PROpolypeptide.

“Treating” or “treatment” or “alleviation” refers to both therapeutictreatment and prophylactic or preventative measures, wherein the objectis to prevent or slow down (lessen) the targeted pathologic condition ordisorder. Those in need of treatment include those already with thedisorder as well as those prone to have the disorder or those in whomthe disorder is to be prevented. The disorder may result from any cause.

“Chronic” administration refers to administration of the agent(s) in acontinuous mode as opposed to an acute mode, so as to maintain theinitial therapeutic effect (activity) for an extended period of time.

“Intermittent” administration is treatment that is not consecutivelydone without interruption, but rather is cyclic in nature.

“Mammal” for purposes of the treatment of, alleviating the symptoms ofor diagnosis of a cancer refers to any animal classified as a mammal,including humans, domestic and farm animals, and zoo, sports, or petanimals, such as dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, goats,rabbits, etc. Preferably, the mammal is human.

Administration “in combination with” one or more further therapeuticagents includes simultaneous (concurrent) and consecutive administrationin any order.

“Carriers” as used herein include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers,excipients, or stabilizers which are nontoxic to the cell or mammalbeing exposed thereto at the dosages and concentrations employed. Oftenthe physiologically acceptable carrier is an aqueous pH bufferedsolution. Examples of physiologically acceptable carriers includebuffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other organic acids;antioxidants including ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less thanabout 10 residues) polypeptide; proteins, such as serum albumin,gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutainine,asparagine, arginine or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, andothercarbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextiins; chelatingagents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol;salt-forming counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactantssuch as TWEEN®, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PLURONICS®.

By “solid phase” is meant a non-aqueous matrix to which the antibody ofthe present invention can adhere. Examples of solid phases encompassedherein include those formed partially or entirely of glass (e.g.,controlled pore glass), polysaccharides (e.g., agarose),polyacrylamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol and silicones. Incertain embodiments, depending on the context, the solid phase cancomprise the well of an assay plate; in others it is a purificationcolumn (e.g., an affinity chromatography column). This term alsoincludes a discontinuous solid phase of discrete particles, such asthose described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,149.

A “liposome” is a small vesicle composed of various types of lipids,phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful for delivery of a drug(such as a PRO polypeptide or antibody thereto) to a mammal. Thecomponents of the liposome are commonly arranged in a bilayer formation,similar to the lipid arrangement of biological membranes.

A “small molecule” is defined herein to have a molecular weight belowabout 500 Daltons.

The term “PRO polypeptide receptor” as used herein refers to a cellularreceptor for a PRO polypeptide as well as variants thereof that retainthe ability to bind a PRO polypeptide.

An “effective amount” of a polypeptide or antibody disclosed herein oran agonist or antagonist thereof is an amount sufficient to carry out aspecifically stated purpose. An “effective amount” may be determinedempirically and in a routine manner, in relation to the stated purpose.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” of an active agent such as aPRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereto or an anti-PROantibody, refers to an amount effective in the treatment of an IBD in amammal and can be determined empirically.

A “growth inhibitory amount” of an anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptideis an amount capable of inhibiting the growth of a cell either in vitroor in vivo, and may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.

A “cytotoxic amount of an anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide is anamount capable of causing the destruction of a cell either in vitro orin vivo, and may be determined empirically and in a routine manner.

The term “antibody” is used in the broadest sense and specificallycovers, for example, single anti-PRO monoclonal antibodies (includingagonist, antagonist, and neutralizing antibodies), anti-PRO antibodycompositions with polyepitopic specificity, polyclonal antibodies,single chain anti-PRO antibodies, and fragments of anti-PRO antibodies(see below) as long as they exhibit the desired biological orimmunological activity. The term “immunoglobulin” (1g) is usedinterchangeable with antibody herein.

An “isolated antibody” is one which has been identified and separatedand/or recovered from a component of its natural environment.Contamninant components of its natural environment are materials whichwould interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the antibody,and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous ornonproteinaceous solutes. In preferred embodiments, the antibody will bepurified (1) to greater than 95% by weight of antibody as determined bythe Lowry method, and most preferably more than 99% by weight, (2) to adegree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal orinternal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (3)to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under reducing or nonreducing conditionsusing Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain. Isolated antibodyincludes the antibody in situ within recombinant cells since at leastone component of the antibody's natural environment will not be presentOrdinarily, however, isolated antibody will be prepared by at least onepurification step.

The basic 4-chain antibody unit is a heterotetrameric glycoproteincomposed of two identical light (L) chains and two identical heavy (H)chains (an IgM antibody consists of 5 of the basic heterotetramer unitalong with an additional polypeptide called J chain, and thereforecontain 10 antigen binding sites, while secreted IgA antibodies canpolymerize to form polyvalent assemblages comprising 2-5 of the basic4-chain units along with J chain). In the case of IgGs, the 4-chain unitis generally about 150,000 daltons. Each L chain is linked to a H chainby one covalent disulfide bond, while the two H chains are linked toeach other by one or more disulfide bonds depending on the H chainisotype. Each H and L chain also has regularly spaced intrachaindisulfide bridges. Each H chain has at the N-terminus, a variable domain(V_(H)) followed by three constant domains (C_(H)) for each of the α andγ chains and four C_(H) domains for μ and ε isotypes. Each L chain hasat the N-terminus, a variable domain (V_(L)) followed by a constantdomain (C_(L)) at its other end. The V_(L) is aligned with the V_(H) andthe C_(L) is aligned with the first constant domain of the heavy chain(C_(H)1). Particular amino acid residues are believed to form aninterface between the light chain and heavy chain variable domains. Thepairing of a V_(H) and V_(L) together forms a single antigen-bindingsite. For the structure and properties of the different classes ofantibodies, see, e.g., Basic and Clinical Immunologv 8th edition, DanielP. Stites, Abba I. Terr and Tristram G. Parslow (eds.), Appleton &Lange, Norwalk, Conn., 1994, page 71 and Chapter 6.

The L chain from any vertebrate species can be assigned to one of twoclearly distinct types, called kappa and lambda, based on the amino acidsequences of their constant domains. Depending on the amino acidsequence of the constant domain of their heavy chains (C_(H)),immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes or isotypes. Thereare five classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, havingheavy chains designated α, δ, ε, γ, and μ, respectively. The γ and αclasses are further divided into subclasses on the basis of relativelyminor differences in C_(H) sequence and function, e.g., humans expressthe following subclasses: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1, and IgA2.

The term “variable” refers to the fact that certain segments of thevariable domains differ extensively in sequence among antibodies. The Vdomain mediates antigen binding and define specificity of a particularantibody for its particular antigen. However, the variability is notevenly distributed across the 110amino acid span of the variabledomains. Instead, the V regions consist of relatively invariantstretches called framework regions (FRs) of 15-30 amino acids separatedby shorter regions of extreme variability called “hypervariable regions”that are each 9-12 amino acids long. The variable domains of nativeheavy and light chains each comprise four FRs, largely adopting aβ-sheet configuration, connected by three hypervariable regions, whichform loops connecting, and in some cases forming part of, the β-sheetstructure. The hypervariable regions in each chain are held together inclose proximity by the FRs and, with the hypervariable regions from theother chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site ofantibodies (see Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of ImmunolopicalInterest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health,Bethesda, Md. (1991)). The constant domains are not involved directly inbinding an antibody to an antigen, but exhibit various effectorfunctions, such as participation of the antibody in antibody dependentcellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

The term “hypervariable region” when used herein refers to the aminoacid residues of an antibody which are responsible for antigen-binding.The hypervariable region generally comprises amino acid residues from a“complementarity determining region” or “CDR” (e.g. around aboutresidues 24-34 (L1), 50-56 (L2) and 89-97 (L3) in the V_(L), and aroundabout 1-35 (H1), 50-65 (H2) and 95-102 (H3) in the V_(H); Kabat et al.Sequences of Proteins of Immunolonical Interest 5th Ed. Public HealthService, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)) and/orthose residues from a “hypervariable loop” (e.g. residues 26-32 (L1),50-52 (L2) and 91-96 (L3) in the V_(L), and 26-32 (H1), 53-55 (H2) and96-101 (H3) in the V_(H); Chothia and Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917(1987)).

The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibodyobtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies,i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identicalexcept for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present inminor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directedagainst a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to polyclonalantibody preparations which include different antibodies directedagainst different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody isdirected against a single determinant on the antigen. In addition totheir specificity, the monoclonal antibodies are advantageous in thatthey may be synthesized uncontaminated by other antibodies. The modifier“monoclonal” is not to be construed as requiring production of theantibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonalantibodies useful in the present invention may be prepared by thehybridoma methodology first described by Kohler et al., Nature, 256:495(1975), or may be made using recombinant DNA methods in bacterial,eukaryotic animal or plant cells (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).The “monoclonal antibodies” may also be isolated from phage antibodylibraries using the techniques described in Clackson et al., Nature,352:624-628 (1991) and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol., 222:581-597 (1991),for example.

The monoclonal antibodies herein include “chimeric” antibodies in whicha portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with orhomologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from aparticular species or belonging to a particular antibody class orsubclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with orhomologous to corresponding sequences in antibodies derived from anotherspecies or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well asfragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desiredbiological activity (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison et al.,Proc. Nad. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:6851-6855 (1984)). Chimeric antibodies ofinterest herein include “primatized” antibodies comprising variabledomain antigen-binding sequences derived from a non-human primate (e.g.Old World Monkey, Ape etc), and human constant region sequences.

An “intact” antibody is one which comprises an antigen-binding site aswell as a C_(L) and at least heavy chain constant domains, C_(H)1,C_(H)2 and C_(H)3. The constant domains may be native sequence constantdomains (e.g. human native sequence constant domains) or amino acidsequence variant thereof. Preferably, the intact antibody has one ormore effector functions.

“Antibody fragments” comprise a portion of an intact antibody,preferably the antigen binding or variable region of the intactantibody. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, andFv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,870,Example 2; Zapata et al., Protein Eng. 8(10): 1057-1062 [1995]);single-chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies formedfrom antibody fragments.

Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-bindingfragments, called “Fab” fragments, and a residual “Fc” fragment, adesignation reflecting the ability to crystallize readily. The Fabfragment consists of an entire L chain along with the variable regiondomain of the H chain (V_(H)), and the first constant domain of oneheavy chain (C_(H)1). Each Fab fragment is monovalent with respect toantigen binding, i.e., it has a single antigen-binding site. Pepsintreatment of an antibody yields a single large F(ab′)₂ fragment whichroughly corresponds to two disulfide linked Fab fragments havingdivalent antigen-binding activity and is still capable of cross-linkingantigen. Fab′ fragments differ from Fab fragments by having additionalfew residues at the carboxy terminus of the C_(H)1 domain including oneor more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab′-SH is thedesignation herein for Fab′ in which the cysteine residue(s) of theconstant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab′)₂ antibody fragmentsoriginally were produced as pairs of Fab′ fragments which have hingecysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragmentsare also known.

The Fc fragment comprises the carboxy-terminal portions of both H chainsheld together by disulfides. The effector functions of antibodies aredetermined by sequences in the Fc region, which region is also the partrecognized by Fc receptors (FcR) found on certain types of cells.

“Fv” is the minimum antibody fragment which contains a completeantigen-recognition and -binding site. This fragment consists of a dimerof one heavy- and one light-chain variable region domain in tight,non-covalent association. From the folding of these two domains emanatesix hypervariable loops (3 loops each from the H and L chain) thatcontribute the amino acid residues for antigen binding and conferantigen binding specificity to the antibody. However, even a singlevariable domain (or half of an Fv comprising only three CDRs specificfor an antigen) has the ability to recognize and bind antigen, althoughat a lower affinity than the entire binding site.

“Single-chain Fv” also abbreviated as “sFv” or “scFv” are antibodyfragments that comprise the V_(H) and V_(L) antibody domains connectedinto a single polypeptide chain. Preferably, the sFv polypeptide furthercomprises a polypeptide linker between the V_(H) and V_(L) domains whichenables the sFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding. For areview of sFv, see Pluckthun in The Pharmacology of MonoclonalAntibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, NewYork, pp. 269-315 (1994); Borrebaeck 1995, infra.

The term “diabodies” refers to small antibody fragments prepared byconstructing sFv fragments (see preceding paragraph) with short linkers(about 5-10 residues) between the V_(H) and V_(L) domains such thatinter-chain but not intra-chain pairing of the V domains is achieved,resulting in a bivalent fragment, i.e., fragment having twoantigen-binding sites. Bispecific diabodies are heterodimers of two“crossover” sFv fragments in which the _(H)V and V_(L) domains of thetwo antibodies are present on different polypeptide chains. Diabodiesare described more fully in, for example, EP 404,097, WO 93/11161; andHollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:6444-6448 (1993).

“Humanized” forms of non-human (e.g., rodent) antibodies are chimericantibodies that contain minimal sequence derived from the non-humanantibody. For the most part, humanized antibodies are humaninununoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from ahypervariable region of-the recipient are replaced by residues from ahypervariable region of a non-human species (donor antibody) such asmouse, rat, rabbit or non-humanprimate having the desired antibodyspecificity, affinity, and capability. In some instances, frameworkregion (FR) residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced bycorresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, humanized antibodies maycomprise residues that are not found in the recipient antibody or in thedonor antibody. These modifications are made to further refine antibodyperformance. In general, the humanized antibody will comprisesubstantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains,in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspondto those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all ofthe FRs are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanizedantibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of animmunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a humanimrnunoglobulin. For further details, see Jones et al., Nature321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323-329 (1988); andPresta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 2:593-596 (1992).

A “species-dependent antibody,” e.g., a mammalian anti-human IgEantibody, is an antibody which has a stronger binding affinity for anantigen from a first mammalian species than it has for a homologue ofthat antigen from a second mammalian species. Normally, thespecies-dependent antibody “bind specifically” to a human antigen (i.e.,has a binding affinity (Kd) value of no more than about 1×10⁻⁷ M,preferably no more than about 1×10⁻⁸ and most preferably no more thanabout 1×10⁻⁹ M) but has a binding affinity for a homologue of theantigen from a second non-human mammalian species which is at leastabout 50 fold, or at least about 500 fold, or at least about 1000 fold,weaker than its binding affinity for the human antigen. Thespecies-dependent antibody can be of any of the various types ofantibodies as defined above, but preferably is a humanized or humanantibody.

An antibody “which binds” an antigen of interest is one that binds theantigen with sufficient affinity such that the antibody is useful as adiagnostic and/or therapeutic agent in targeting a cell expressing theantigen, and does not significantly cross-react with other proteins. Insuch embodiments, the extent of binding of the antibody to a“non-target” protein will be less than about 10% of the binding of theantibody to its particular target protein as determined by fluorescenceactivated cell sorting (FACS) analysis or radioimmunoprecipitation(RIA). An antibody that “specifically binds to” or is “specific for” aparticular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide is onethat binds to that particular polypeptide or epitope on a particularpolypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide orpolypeptide epitope.

An “antibody that inhibits the growth of cells expressing a PROpolypeptide” or a “growth inhibitory” antibody is one which binds to andresults in measurable growth inhibition of cells expressing oroverexpressing the appropriate PRO polypeptide. Preferred growthinhibitory anti-PRO antibodies inhibit growth of PRO-expressing cells bygreater than 20%, preferably from about 20% to about 50%, and even morepreferably, by greater than 50% (e.g., from about 50% to about 100%) ascompared to the appropriate control, the control typically being cellsnot treated with the antibody being tested. Growth inhibition can bemeasured at an antibody concentration of about 0.1 to 30 μg/ml or about0.5 nM to 200 nM in cell culture, where the growth inhibition isdetermined 1-10 days after exposure of the cells to the antibody.

An antibody which “induces apoptosis” is one which induces programmedcell death as determined by binding of annexin V, fragmentation of DNA,cell shrinkage, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, cell fragmentation,and/or formation of membrane vesicles (called apoptotic bodies). Thecell is usually one which overexpresses a PRO polypeptide. Preferablythe cell is a tumor cell, e.g., a prostate, breast, ovarian, stomach,endometrial, lung, kidney, colon, bladder cell. Various methods areavailable for evaluating the cellular events associated with apoptosis.For example, phosphatidyl serine (PS) translocation can be measured byannexin binding; DNA fragmentation can be evaluated through DNAladdering; and nuclear/chromatin condensation along with DNAfragmentation can be evaluated by any increase in hypodiploidcells.Preferably, the antibody which induces apoptosis is one which results inabout 2 to 50 fold, preferably about 5 to 50 fold, and most preferablyabout 10 to 50 fold, induction of binding relative to untreated cell inan annexin binding assay.

Antibody “effector functions” refer to those biological activitiesattributable to the Fc region (a native sequence Fc region or amino acidsequence variant Fc region) of an antibody, and vary with the antibodyisotype. Examples of antibody effector functions include: C1q bindingand complement dependent cytotoxicity; Fc receptor binding;antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; downregulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor); and B cellactivation.

“Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity” or “ADCC” refers to aform of cytotoxicity in which secreted Ig bound onto Fc receptors (FcRs)present on certain cytotoxic cells (e.g., Natural Killer (NK) cells,neutrophils, and macrophages) enable these cytotoxic effector cells tobind specifically to an antigen-bearing target cell and subsequentlykill the target cell with cytotoxins. The antibodies “arm” the cytotoxiccells and are absolutely required for such killing. The primary cellsfor mediating ADCC, NK cells, express Fc γRIII only, whereas monocytesexpress FcγRI, FcγRIII and FcγRIII. FcR expression on hematopoieticcells is summarized in Table 3 on page 464 of Ravetch and Kinet, Annu.Rev. Immunol. 9:457-92 (1991). To assess ADCC activity of a molecule ofinterest, an in vitro ADCC assay, such as that described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337 may be performed. Useful effector cells forsuch assays include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) andNatural Killer (NK) cells. Alternatively, or additionally, ADCC activityof the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, e.g., in a animalmodel such as that disclosed in Clynes et al. (USA) 95:652-656 (1998).

“Fc receptor” or “FcR” describes a receptor that binds to the Fc regionof an antibody. The preferred FcR is a native sequence human FcR.Moreover, a preferred FcR is one which binds an IgG antibody (a gammareceptor) and includes receptors of the FcγRI, FcγRII and FcγRIIIsubclasses, including allelic variants and alternatively spliced formsof these receptors. FcγRII receptors include FcγRIIA (an “activatingreceptor”) and FcγRIIB (an “inhibiting receptor”), which have similaramino acid sequences that differ primarily in the cytoplasmic domainsthereof. Activating receptor FcγRIIA contains an inmmunoreceptortyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) in its cytoplasmic domain.Inhibiting receptor FcγRIIB contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-basedinhibition motif (ITIM) in its cytoplasmic domain. (see review M. inDaëron, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 15:203-234 (1997)). FcRs are reviewed inRavetch and Kinet, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 9:457-492 (1991); Capel et al.,Immunomethods 4:25-34 (1994); and de Haas etal., J. Lab. Clin. Med.126:330-41 (1995). Other FcRs, including those to be identified in thefuture, are encompassed by the term “FcR” herein. The term also includesthe neonatal receptor, FcRn, which is responsible for the transfer ofmaternal IgGs to the fetus (Guyer et al., J. Iminunol. 117:587 (1976)and Kim et al., J. Immunol. 24:249 (1994)).

“Human effector cells” are leukocytes which express one or more FcRs andperform effector functions. Preferably, the cells express at leastFcγRIII and perform ADCC effector function. Examples of human leukocyteswhich mediate ADCC include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC),natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, cytotoxic T cells and neutrophils;with PBMCs and NK cells being preferred. The effector cells may beisolated from a native source, e.g., from blood.

“Complement dependent cytotoxicity” or “CDC” refers to the lysis of atarget cell in the presence of complement. Activation of the classicalcomplement pathway is initiated by the binding of the first component ofthe complement system (C1q) to antibodies (of the appropriate subclass)which are bound to their cognate antigen. To assess complementactivation, a CDC assay, e.g., as described in Gazzano-Santoro et al.,J. Immunol. Methods 202:163 (1996), may be performed.

The terms “cancer” and “cancerous” refer to or describe thephysiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized byunregulated cell growth. Examples of cancer include, but are not limitedto, carcinoma, lymphoma, blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia or lymphoidmalignancies. More particular examples of such cancers include squamouscell cancer (e.g., epithelial squamous cell cancer), lung cancerincluding small-cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer,adenocarcinoma of the lung and squamous carcinoma of the lung, cancer ofthe peritoneum, hepatocellular cancer, gastric or stomach cancerincluding gastrointestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma,cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, cancer ofthe urinary tract, hepatoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer,colorectal cancer, endometrial or uterine carcinoma, salivary glandcarcinoma, kidney or renal cancer, prostate cancer, vulval cancer,thyroid cancer, hepatic carcinoma, anal carcinoma, penile carcinoma,melanoma, multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphoma, brain, as well as headand neck cancer, and associated metastases.

“Tumor”, as used herein, refers to all neoplastic cell growth andproliferation, whether malignant or benign, and all pre-cancerous andcancerous cells and tissues.

An antibody which “induces cell death” is one which causes a viable cellto become nonviable. The cell is one which expresses a PRO polypeptide,preferably a cell that overexpresses a PRO polypeptide as compared to anormal cell of the same tissue type. Cell death in vitro may bedetermined in the absence of complement and immune effector cells todistinguish cell death induced by antibody-dependent cell-mediatedcytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Thus,the assay for cell death may be performed using heat inactivated serum(i.e., in the absence of complement) and in the absence of immuneeffector cells. To determine whether the antibody is able to induce celldeath; loss of membrane integrity as evaluated by uptake of propidiumiodide (PI), trypan blue (see Moore et al. Cytotechnology 17:1-11(1995)) or 7AAD can be assessed relative to untreated cells. Preferredcell death-inducing antibodies are those which induce PI uptake in thePI uptake assay in BT474 cells.

A “PRO-expressing cell” is a cell which expresses an endogenous ortransfected PRO polypeptide on the cell surface. A “PRO-expressing IBD”is an IBD comprising cells that have a PRO polypeptide present on thecell surface. A “PRO-expressing IBD” produces sufficient levels of PROpolypeptide on the surface of cells thereof, such that an anti-PROantibody can bind thereto and have a therapeutic effect with respect tothe IBD. A, IBD which “overexpresses” a PRO polypeptide is one which hassignificantly higher levels of PRO polypeptide at the cell surfacethereof, compared to a non-IBD cell of the same tissue type. Suchoverexpression may be caused by gene amplification or by increasedtranscription or translation. PRO polypeptide overexpressionmay bedetermined in a diagnostic or prognostic assay by evaluating increasedlevels of the PRO protein present on the surface of a cell (e.g., via animmunohistochemistry assay using anti-PRO antibodies prepared against anisolated PRO polypeptide which may be prepared using recombinant DNAtechnology from an isolated nucleic acid encoding the PRO polypeptide;FACS analysis, etc.). Alternatively, or additionally, one may measurelevels of PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or mRNA in the cell,e.g., via fluorescent in situ hybridization using a nucleic acid basedprobe corresponding to a PRO-encoding nucleic acid or the complementthereof; (FISH; see WO98/45479 published October, 1998), Southernblotting, Northern blotting, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)techniques, such as real time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). One may alsostudy PRO polypeptide overexpression by measuring shed antigen in abiological fluid such as serum, e.g, using antibody-based assays (seealso, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,294 issued Jun. 12, 1990; WO91/05264published Apr. 18, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,638 issued Mar. 28, 1995;and Sias et al., J. Immunol. Methods 132:73-80 (1990)). Aside from theabove assays, various in vivo assays are available to the skilledpractitioner. For example, one may expose cells within the body of thepatient to an antibody which is optionally labeled with a detectablelabel, e.g., a radioactive isotope, and binding of the antibody to cellsin the patient can be evaluated, e.g., by external scanning forradioactivity or by analyzing a biopsy taken from a patient previouslyexposed to the antibody.

As used herein, the term “immunoadhesin” designates antibody-likemolecules which combine the binding specificity of a heterologousprotein (an “adhesin”) with the effector functions of immunoglobulinconstant domains. Structurally, the immunoadhesins comprise a fusion ofan amino acid sequence with the desired binding specificity which isother than the antigen recognition and binding site of an antibody(i.e., is “heterologous”), and an immunoglobulin constant domainsequence. The adhesin part of an imnuunoadhesin molecule typically is acontiguous amino acid sequence comprising at least the binding site of areceptor or a ligand. The immunoglobulin constant domain sequence in theimmunoadhesin may be obtained from any immunoglobulin, such as IgG-1,IgG-2, IgG-3, or IgG-4 subtypes, IgA (including IgA-1 and IgA-2), IgE,IgD or IgM.

The word “label” when used herein refers to a detectable compound orcomposition which is conjugated directly or indirectly to the antibodyso as to generate a “labeled” antibody. The label may be detectable byitself (e.g. radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the caseof an enzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a substratecompound or composition which is detectable.

The term “cytotoxic agent” as used herein refers to a substance thatinhibits or prevents the function of cells and/or causes destruction ofcells. The term is intended to include radioactive isotopes (e.g.,At²¹¹, I¹³¹, I¹²⁵, Y⁹⁰, Re¹⁸⁶, Re¹⁸⁸, Sm¹⁵³, Bi²¹², P³² and radioactiveisotopes of Lu), chemotherapeutic agents e.g. methotrexate, adriamicin,vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide), doxorubicin,melphalan, mitomycin C, chlorambucil, daunorubicin or otherintercalating agents, enzymes and fragments thereof such as nucleolyticenzymes, antibiotics, and toxins such as small molecule toxins orenzymatically active toxins of bacterial, fungal, plant or animalorigin, including fragments and/or variants thereof, and the variousantitumor or anticancer agents disclosed below. Other cytotoxic agentsare described below. A tumoricidal agent causes destruction of tumorcells.

A “growth inhibitory agent” when used herein refers to a compound orcomposition which inhibits growth of a cell either iyi vitro or in vivo.Thus, the growth inhibitory agent may be one which significantly reducesthe percentage of PRO-expressing cells in S phase. Examples of growthinhibitory agents include agents that block cell cycle progression (at aplace other than S phase), such as agents that induce G1 arrest andM-phase arrest Classical M-phase blockers include the vincas(vincristine and vinblastine), taxanes, and topoisomerase II inhibitorssuch as doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin, etoposide, and bleomycin.Those agents that arrest G1 also spill over into S-phase arrest, forexample, DNA alkylating agents such as tamoxifen, prednisone,dacarbazine, mechlorethamine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil,and ara-C. Further information can be found in The Molecular Basis ofCancer, Mendelsohn and Israel, eds., Chapter 1, entitled “Cell cycleregulation, oncogenes, and antineoplastic drugs” by Murakami et al. (W BSaunders: Philadelphia, 1995), especially p. 13. The taxanes (paclitaxeland docetaxel) are anticancer drugs both derived from the yew tree.Docetaxel (TAXOTERE®, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer), derived from the Europeanyew, is a semisynthetic analogue of paclitaxel (TAXOL®, Bristol-MyersSquibb). Paclitaxel and docetaxel promote the assembly of microtubulesfrom tubulin dimers and stabilize microtubules by preventingdepolymerization, which results in the inhibition of mitosis in cells.

“Doxorubicin” is an anthracycline antibiotic. The full chemical name ofdoxorubicin is(8S-cis)-10-[(3-amnino-2,3,6-trideoxy-α-L-lyxo-hexapyranosyl)oxy]-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,8,11-trihydroxy-8-(hydroxyacetyl)-1-methoxy-5,12-naphthacenedione.

The term “cytokine” is a generic term for proteins released by one cellpopulation which act on another cell as intercellular mediators.Examples of such cytolines are lymphokines, monokines, and traditionalpolypeptide hormones. Included among the cytokines are growth hormonesuch as human growth hormone, N-methionyl human growth hormone, andbovine growth hormone; parathyroid hormone; thyroxine; insulin;proinsulin; relaxin; prorelaxin; glycoprotein hormones such as folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), andluteinizing hormone (LH); hepatic growth factor; fibroblast growthfactor; prolactin; placental lactogen; tumor necrosis factor-α and -β;mullerian-inhibiting substance; mouse gonadotropin-associated peptide;inhibin; activin; vascular endothelial growth factor; integrin;thrombopoietin (TPO); nerve growth factors such as NGF-β;platelet-growth factor; transforming growth factors (TGFs) such as TGF-αand TGF-β; insulin-like growth factor-I and -II; erythropoietin (EPO);osteoinductive factors; interferons such as interferon -α, β, and -γ;colony stimulating factors (CSFs) such as macrophage-CSF (M-CSF);granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF); and granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF);interleukins (ILs) such as IL-1, IL-1a, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6,IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-11, IL-12; a tumor necrosis factor such as TNF-α orTNF-β; and other polypeptide factors including LIF and kit ligand (KL).As used herein, the term cytokine includes proteins from natural sourcesor from recombinant cell culture and biologically active equivalents ofthe native sequence cytokines.

The term “package insert” is used to refer to instructions customarilyincluded in commercial packages of therapeutic products, that containinformation about the indications, usage, dosage, administration,contraindications and/or warnings concerning the use of such therapeuticproducts. TABLE 2 PRO XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Length = 15 amino acids)Comparison XXXXXYYYYYYY (Length = 12 Protein amino acids)% amino acid sequence identity = (the number of identically matchingamino acid residues between the two polypeptide sequences as determinedby ALIGN-2) divided by (the total number of amino acid residues of thePRO polypeptide) = 5 divided by 15 = 33.3%

TABLE 3 PRO XXXXXXXXXX (Length = 10 amino acids) ComparisonXXXXXYYYYYYZZYZ (Length = 15 Protein amino acids)% amino acid sequence identity = (the number of identically matchingamino acid residues between the two polypeptide sequences as determinedby ALIGN-2) divided by (the total number of amino acid residues of thePRO polypeptide) = 5 divided by 10 = 50%

TABLE 4 PRO-DNA NNNNNNNNNNNNNN (Length = 14 nucleotides) ComparisonNNNNNNLLLLLLLLLL (Length = 16 DNA nucleotides)% nucleic acid sequence identity = (the number of identically matchingnucleotides between the two nucleic acid sequences as determined byALIGN-2) divided by (the total number of nucleotides of the PRO-DNAnucleic acid sequence) = 6 divided by 14 = 42.9%

TABLE 5 PRO-DNA NNNNNNNNNNNN (Length = 12 nucleotides) ComparisonNNNNLLLVV (Length = 9 DNA nucleotides)% nucleic acid sequence identity = (the number of identically matchingnucleotides between the two nucleic acid sequences as determined byALIGN-2) divided by (the total number of nucleotides of the PRO-DNAnucleic acid sequence) = 4 divided by 12 = 33.3%

5.2. Compositions and Methods of the Invention 5.2.1. Anti-PROAntibodies

In one embodiment, the present invention provides anti-PRO antibodieswhich may find use herein as therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents.Exemplary antibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal, human, humanized,bispecific, and heteroconjugate antibodies.

5.2.1.1. Polyclonal Antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies are preferably raised in animals by multiplesubcutaneous (sc) or intraperitoneal (ip) injections of the relevantantigen and an adjuvant. It may be useful to conjugate the relevantantigen (especially when synthetic peptides are used) to a protein thatis immunogenic in the species to be immunized. For example, the antigencan be conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), serum albumin,bovine thyroglobulin, or soybean trypsin inhibitor, using a bifunctionalor derivatizing agent, e.g., maleimidobenzoyl sulfosuccinimide ester(conjugation through cysteine residues), N-hydroxysuccinimide (throughlysine residues), glutaraldehyde, succinic anhydride, SOCl₂, orR¹N═C═NR, where R and R¹ are different alkyl groups.

Animals are immunized against the antigen, immunogenic conjugates, orderivatives by combining, e.g., 100 μg or 5 μg of the protein orconjugate (for rabbits or mice, respectively) with 3 volumes ofFreund'scomplete adjuvant and injecting the solution intradermally atmultiple sites. One month later, the animals are boosted with ⅕ to{fraction (1/10)} the original amount of peptide or conjugate inFreund'scomplete adjuvant by subcutaneous injection at multiple sites.Seven to 14 days later, the animals are bled and the serum is assayedfor antibody titer. Animals are boosted until the titer plateaus.Conjugates also can be made in recombinant cell culture as proteinfusions. Also, aggregating agents such as alum are suitably used toenhance the immune response.

5.2.1.2. Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies may be made using the hybridoma method firstdescribed by Kohler et al., Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made byrecombinant DNA methods (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).

In the hybridoma method, a mouse or other appropriate host animal, suchas a hamster, is immunized as described above to elicit lymphocytes thatproduce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specificallybind to the protein used for immunization. Alternatively, lymphocytesmay be immunizedin vitro. After immunization, lymphocytes are isolatedand then fused with a myeloma cell line using a suitable fusing agent,such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell (Goding,Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice pp.59-103 (AcademicPress, 1986)).

The hybridoma cells thus prepared are seeded and grown in a suitableculture medium which medium preferably contains one or more substancesthat inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, parental myelomacells (also referred to as fusion partner). For example, if the parentalmyeloma cells lack the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT or HPRT), the selective culture medium for thehybridomas typically will include hypoxanthine, aminopterin, aridthymidine (HAT medium), which substances prevent the growth ofHGPRT-deficient cells.

Preferred fusion partner myeloma cells are those that fuse efficiently,support stable high-level production of antibody by the selectedantibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a selective medium thatselects against the unfused parental cells. Preferred myeloma cell linesare murine myeloma lines, such as those derived from MOPC-21 and MPC-11mouse tumors available from the SalkInstitute Cell DistributionCenter,San Diego, Calif. USA, and SP-2 and derivatives e.g., X63-Ag8-653 cellsavailable from the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., USA.Human myeloma and mouse-human heteromyeloma cell lines also have beendescribed for the production of human monoclonal antibodies (Kozbor, J.Imunol., 133:3001 (1984); and Brodeuretal., Monoclonal AntibodyProduction Techniques and Applications, pp. 51-63 (Marcel Dekker, Inc.,New York, 1987)).

Culture medium in which hybridoma cells are growing is assayed forproduction of monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen.Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodies produced byhybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation or by an in vitrobinding assay, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) or enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibody can, for example, bedetermined by the Scatchard analysis described in Munson et al., Anal.Biochem., 107:220 (1980).

Once hybridoma cells that produce antibodies of the desired specificity,affinity, and/or activity are identified, the clones may be subdloned bylimiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods (Goding,Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, pp.59-103 (AcademicPress, 1986)). Suitable culture media for this purpose include, forexample, D-MEM or RPMI-1640 medium. In addition, the hybridoma cells maybe grownin vivo as ascites tumors in an animal e.g., by i.p. injectionof the cells into mice.

The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subdlones are suitablyseparated from the culture medium, ascites fluid, or serum byconventional antibody purification procedures such as, for example,affinity chromatography (e.g., using protein A or protein G-Sepharose)or ion-exchange chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gelelectrophoresis, dialysis, etc.

DNA encoding the monoclonal antibodies is readily isolated and sequencedusing conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotide probesthat are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding the heavy andlight chains of murine antibodies). The hybridoma cells serve as apreferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, the DNA may be placed intoexpression vectors, which are then transfected into host cells such asE. coli cells, simian COS cells, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, ormyeloma cells that do not otherwise produce antibody protein, to obtainthe synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in the recombinant host cells.Review articles on recombinant expression in bacteria of DNA encodingthe antibody include Skerra et al., Curr. Opinion in Immunol., 5:256-262(1993) and Pluickthun, Immunol. Revs. 130:151-188 (1992).

In a further embodiment, monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments canbe isolated from antibody phage libraries generated using the techniquesdescribed in McCafferty et al., Nature, 348:552-554 (1990). Clackson etal., Nature, 352:624-628 (1991) and Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol.,222:581-597 (1991) describe the isolation of murine and humanantibodies, respectively, using phage libraries. Subsequent publicationsdescribe the production of high afinity (nM range) human antibodies bychain shuffling (Marks et al., Bio/Technology 10:779-783 (1992)), aswell as combinatorial infection and ini vivo recombination as a strategyfor constructing very large phage libraries (Waterhouse et al., Nuc.Acids. Res. 21:2265-2266 (1993)). Thus, these techniques are viablealternatives to traditional monoclonal antibody hybridoma techniques forisolation of monoclonal antibodies.

The DNA that encodes the antibody may be modified to produce chimeric orfusion antibody polypeptides, for example, by substituting human heavychain and light chain constant domain (C_(H) and C_(L)) sequences forthe homologous murine sequences (U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Morrison,et al., Proc. Nad Acad. Sci. USA, 81:6851 (1984)), or by fusing theimmunoglobulin coding sequence with all or part of the coding sequencefor a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide (heterologous polypeptide). Thenon-immunoglobulin polypeptide sequences can substitute for the constantdomains of an antibody, or they are substituted for the variable domainsof one antigen-combining site of an antibody to create a chimericbivalent antibody comprising one antigen-combining site havingspecificity for an antigen and another antigen-combining site havingspecificity for a different antigen.

5.2.1.3. Human and Humanized Antibodies

The anti-PRO antibodies of the invention may further comprise humanizedantibodies or human antibodies. Humanized forms of non-human (e.g.,murine) antibodies are chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chainsor fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂ or otherantigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) which contain minimalsequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. Humanized antibodiesinclude human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residuesfrom a complementary determining region (CDR) of the recipient arereplaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody)such as mouse, rat or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinityand capacity. In some instances, Fv framework residues of the humanimmunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues.Humanized antibodies may also comprise residues which are found neitherin the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or frameworksequences. In general, the humanized antibody will comprisesubstantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains,in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to thoseof a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FRregions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. Thehumanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of animmunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a humanimmunoglobulin [Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann etal., Nature, 332:323-329 (1988); and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol.,2:593-596 (1992)].

Methods for humanizing non-human antibodies are well known in the art.Generally, a humanized antibody has one or more amino acid residuesintroduced into it from a source which is non-human. These non-humanamino acid residues are often referred to as “import” residues, whichare typically taken from an “import” variable domain. Humanization canbe essentially performed following the method of Winter and co-workers[Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986); Riechmann et al., Nature,332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science. 239:1534-1536 (1988)], bysubstituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences for the correspondingsequences of a human antibody. Accordingly, such “humanized” antibodiesare chimeric antibodies (U.S. Pat. No.4,816,567), wherein substantiallyless than an intact human variable domain has been substituted by thecorresponding sequence from a non-human species. In practice, humanizedantibodies are typically human antibodies in which some CDRresidues andpossibly some FR residues are substituted by residues from analogoussites in rodent antibodies.

The choice of human variable domains, both light and heavy, to be usedin making the humanized antibodies is very important to reduceantigenicity and HAMA response (human anti-mouse antibody) when theantibody is intended for human therapeutic use. According to theso-called “best-fit” method, the sequence of the variable domain of arodent antibody is screened against the entire library of known humanvariable domain sequences. The human V domain sequence which is closestto that of the rodent is identified and the human framework region (FR)within it accepted for the humanized antibody (Sims et al., J. Immunol.151:2296 (1993); Chothiaet al., J. Mol. Biol., 196:901 (1987)). Anothermethod uses a particular framework region derived from the consensussequence of all human antibodies of a particular subgroup of light orheavy chains. The same framework may be used for several differenthumanized antibodies (Carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:4285(1992); Presta et al., J. Immunol. 151:2623 (1993)).

It is further important that antibodies be humanized with retention ofhigh binding affinity for the antigen and other favorable biologicalproperties. To achieve this goal, according to a preferred method,humanized antibodies are prepared by a process of analysis of theparental sequences and various conceptual humanized products usingthree-dimensional models of the parental and humanized sequences.Three-dimensional immunoglobulin models are commonly available and arefamiliar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are availablewhich illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformationalstructures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection ofthese displays permits analysis of the likely role of the residues inthe functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence, i.e., theanalysis of residues that influence the ability of the candidateimmunoglobulin to bind its antigen. In this way, FR residues can beselected and combined from the recipient and import sequences so thatthe desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for thetarget antigen(s), is achieved. In general, the hypervariable regionresidues are directly and most substantially involved in influencingantigen binding.

Various forms of a humanized anti-PRO antibody are contemplated. Forexample, the humanized antibody may be an antibody fragment, such as aFab, which is optionally conjugated with one or more cytotoxic agent(s)in order to generate an immunoconjugate. Alternatively, the humanizedantibody may be an intact antibody, such as an intact IgG1 antibody.

As an alternative to humanization, human antibodies can be generated.For example, it is now possible to produce transgenic animals (e.g.,mice) that are capable, upon immunization, of producing a fullrepertoire of human antibodies in the absence of endogenousimmunoglobulin production. For example, it has been described that thehomozygous deletion of the antibody heavy-chain joining region (J_(H))gene in chimeric and germ-line mutant mice results in completeinhibition of endogenous antibody production. Transfer of the humangerm-line immunoglobulin gene array into such germ-line mutant mice willresult in the production of human antibodies upon antigen challenge.See, e.g., Jakobovits et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90:2551(1993); Jakobovits et al., Nature 362:255-258 (1993); Bruggemann et al.,Year in Immuno. 7:33 (1993); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,806, 5,569,825,5,591,669 (all of GenPharm); U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,807; and WO 97/17852.

Alternatively, phage display technology (McCafferty et al., Nature348:552-553 [1990]) can be used to produce human antibodies and antibodyfragments in vitro, from immunoglobulin variable (V) domain generepertoires from unimmunized donors. According to this technique,antibody V domain genes are cloned in-frame into either a major or minorcoat protein gene of a filamentous bacteriophage, such as M13 or fd, anddisplayed as functional antibody fragments on the surface of the phageparticle. Because the filamentous particle contains a single-strandedDNA copy of the phage genome, selections based on the ftmctionalproperties of the antibody also result in selection of the gene encodingthe antibody exhibiting those properties. Thus, the phage mimics some ofthe properties of the B-cell. Phage display can be performed in avariety of formats, reviewed in, e.g., Johnson, Kevin S. and Chiswell,David J., Current Opinion in Structural Biology 3:564-571 (1993).Several sources of V-gene segments can be used for phagedisplay.Clackson et al. Nature, 352:624-628 (1991) isolatedadiverse array ofanti-oxazolone antibodies from a small random combinatorial library of Vgenes derived from the spleens of immunized mice. A repertoire of Vgenes from unimmunized human donors can be constructed and antibodies toa diverse array of antigens (including self-antigens) can be isolatedessentially following the techniques described by Marks et al., J. Mol.Biol. 222:581-597 (1991), or Griffith et al., EMBO J. 12:725-734 (1993).See, also, U.S. Pat. Nos 5,565,332 and 5,573,905.

As discussed above, human antibodies may also be generated by in vitroactivated B cells (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,567,610 and 5,229,275).

5.2.1.4. Antibody Fragments

In certain circumstances there are advantages of using antibodyfragments, rather than whole antibodies. The smaller size of thefragments allows for rapid clearance, and may lead to improved access tosolid tumors.

Various techniques have been developed for the production of antibodyfragments. Traditionally, these fragments were derived via proteolyticdigestion of intact antibodies (see, e.g., Morimoto et al., Journal ofBiochemical and Biophysical Methods 24:107-117 (1992); and Brennan etal., Science, 229:81 (1985)). However, these fragments can now beproduced directly by recombinant host cells. Fab, Fv and ScFv antibodyfragments can all be expressed in and secreted from E. coli, thusallowing the facile production of large amounts of these fragments.Antibody fragments can be isolated from the antibody phage librariesdiscussed above. Alternatively, Fab′-SH fragments can be directlyrecovered from E. coli and chemically coupled to form F(ab′)₂ fragments(Carter et al., Bio/Technoloy 10:163-167 (1992)). According to anotherapproach, F(ab₂′) fragments can be isolated directly from recombinanthost cell culture. Fab and F(ab′)₂ fragment with increased in vivohalf-life comprising a salvage receptor binding epitope residues aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No.5,869,046. Other techniques for the productionof antibody fragments will be apparent to the skilled practitioner. Inother embodiments, the antibody of choice is a single chain Fv fragment(scFv). See WO 93/16185; U.S. Pat. No.5,571,894; and U.S. Pat. No.5,587,458. Fv and sFv are the only species with intact combining sitesthat are devoid of constantregions; thus, they are suitable for reducednonspecific binding during in vivo use. sFv fusion proteins may beconstructed to yield fusion of an effector protein at either the aminoor the carboxy terminus of an sFv. See Antibody Engineering, ed.Borrebaeck, supra The antibody fragment may also be a “linear antibody”,e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,870 for example. Such linearantibody fragments may be monospecific or bispecific.

5.2.1.5. Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies are antibodies that have binding specificities forat least two different epitopes. Exemplary bispecific antibodies maybind to two different epitopes of a PRO protein as described herein.Other such antibodies may combine a PRO binding site with a binding sitefor another protein. Alternatively, an anti-PRO arm may be combined withan arm which binds to a triggering molecule on a leukocyte such as aT-cell receptor molecule (e.g. CD3), or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR),such as FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32) and FcγRII (CD16), So as to focusand localize cellular defense mechanisms to the PRO-expressing cell.Bispecific antibodies may also be used to localize cytotoxic agents tocells which express PRO. These antibodies possess a PRO-binding arm andan arm which binds the cytotoxic agent (e.g., saporin,anti-interferon-a, vinca alkaloid, ricin A chain, methotrexate orradioactive isotope hapten). Bispecific antibodies can be prepared asfull length antibodies or antibody fragments (e.g., F(ab′)₂ bispecificantibodies).

WO 96/16673 describes a bispecific anti-ErbB2/anti-FcγRII antibody andU.S. Pat. No. 5,837,234 discloses a bispecific anti-ErbB2/anti-FcγRIantibody. A bispecific anti-ErbB2/Fc α antibody is shown in WO98/02463.U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,337 teaches a bispecific anti-ErbB2/anti-CD3antibody.

Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the artTraditional production of full length bispecific antibodies is based onthe co-expression of two imrnunoglobulin heavy chain-light chain pairs,where the two chains have different specificities (Millstein et al.,Nature 305:537-539 (1983)). Because of the random assortment ofimmunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these hybridomas (quadromas)produce a potential mixture of 10 different antibody molecules, of whichonly one has the correct bispecific structure. Purification of thecorrect molecule, which is usually done by. affinity chromatographysteps, is rather cumbersome, and the product yields are low. Similarprocedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829, and in Traunecker et al., EMBOJ. 10:3655-3659 (1991).

According to a different approach, antibody variable domains with thedesired binding specificities (antibody-antigen combining sites) arefused to inumunoglobulin constant domain sequences. Preferably, thefusion is with an Ig heavy chain constant domain, comprising at leastpart of the hinge, C_(H)2, and C_(H)3 regions. It is preferred to havethe first heavy-chain constant region (C_(H)1) containing the sitenecessary for light chain bonding, present in at least one of thefusions. DNAs encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain fusions and, ifdesired, the immunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separateexpression vectors, and are co-transfected into a suitable host cell.This provides for greater flexibility in adjusting the mutualproportions of the three polypeptide fragments in embodiments whenunequal ratios of the three polypeptide chains used in the constructionprovide the optimum yield of the desired bispecific antibody. It is,however, possible to insert the coding sequences for two or all threepolypeptide chains into a single expression vector when the expressionof at least two polypeptide chains in equal ratios results in highyields or when the ratios have no significant affect on the yield of thedesired chain combination.

In a preferred embodiment of this approach, the bispecific antibodiesare composed of a hybrid immunoglobulin heavy chain with a first bindingspecificity in one arm, and a hybrid immunoglobulin heavy chain-lightchain pair (providing a second binding specificity) in the other arm. Itwas found that this asymmetric structure facilitates the separation ofthe desired bispecific compound from unwanted immunoglobulin chaincombinations, as the presence of an immunoglobulin light chain in onlyone half of the bispecific molecule provides for a facile way ofseparation. This approach is disclosed in WO 94/04690. For furtherdetails of generating bispecific antibodies see, for example, Suresh etal., Methods in Enzymology 121:210 (1986).

According to another approach described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,168, theinterface between a pair of antibody molecules can be engineered tomaximize the percentage of heterodimers which are recovered fromrecombinant cell culture. The preferred interface comprises at least apart of the C_(H)3 domain. In this method, one or more small amino acidside chains from the interface of the first antibody molecule arereplaced with larger side chains (e.g., tyrosine or tryptophan).Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the large sidechain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody molecule byreplacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g., alanineor threonine). This provides a mechanism for increasing the yield of theheterodimer over other unwanted end-products such as homodimers.

Bispecific antibodies include cross-linked or “heteroconjugate”antibodies. For example, one of the antibodies in the heteroconjugatecan be coupled to avidin, the other to biotin. Such antibodies have, forexample, been proposed to target immune system cells to unwanted cells(U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980), and for treatment of HIV infection (WO91/00360, WO 92/200373, and EP 03089). Heteroconjugate antibodies may bemade using any convenient cross-linking methods. Suitable cross-linkingagents are well known in the art, and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,676,980, along with a number of cross-linking techniques.

Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragmentshave also been described in the literature. For example, bispecificantibodies can be prepared using chemical linkage. Brennan et al.,Science 229:81 (1985) describe a procedure wherein intact antibodies areproteolytically cleaved to generate F(ab′)₂ fragments. These fragmentsare reduced in the presence of the dithiol complexing agent, sodiumarsenite, to stabilize vicinal dithiols and prevent intermoleculardisulfide formation. The Fab′ fragments generated are then converted tothionitrobenzoate (TNB) derivatives. One of the Fab′-TNB derivatives isthen reconverted to the Fab′-thiol by reduction with mercaptoethylamineand is mixed with an equimolar amount of the other Fab′-TNB derivativeto form the bispecific antibody. The bispecific antibodies produced canbe used as agents for the selective immobilization of enzymes.

Recent progress has facilitated the direct recovery of Fab′-SH fragmentsfrom E. coli, which can be chemically coupled to form bispecificantibodies. Shalaby et al., J. Exy. Med. 175: 217-225 (1992) describethe production of a fully humanized bispecific antibody F(ab′)₂molecule. Each Fab′ fragment was separately secreted from E. coli andsubjected to directed chemical coupling in vitro to form the bispecificantibody. The bispecific antibody thus formed was able to bind to cellsoverexpressing the ErbB2 receptor and normal human T cells, as well astrigger the lytic activity of human cytotoxic lymphocytes against humanbreast tumor targets. Various techniques for malking and isolatingbispecific antibody fragments directly from recombinant cell culturehave also been described. For example, bispecific antibodies have beenproduced using leucine zippers. Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148(5):1547-1553 (1992). The leucine zipper peptides from the Fos and Junproteins were linked to the Fab′ portions of two different antibodies bygene fusion. The antibody homodimers were reduced at the hinge region toform monomers and then re-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers.This method can also be utilized for the production of antibodyhomodimers. The “diabody” technology described by Hollinger et al Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:6444-6448 (1993) has provided an alternativemechanism for malting bispecific antibody fragments. The fragmentscomprise a V_(H) connected to a V_(L) by a linker which is too short toallow pairing between the two domains on the same chain. Accordingly,the V_(H) and V_(L) domains of one fragment are forced to pair with thecomplementary V_(L) and V_(H) domains of another fragment, therebyforming two antigen-binding sites. Another strategy for makingbispecific antibody fragments by the use of single-chain Fv (sFv) dimershas also been reported. See Gruber et al., J. Immunol., 152:5368 (1994).

Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated. For example,trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 147:60(1991).

5.2.1.6. Heteroconiugate Antibodies

Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the presentinvention. Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalentlyjoined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed totarget immune system cells to unwanted cells [U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980],and for treatment of HIV infection [WO 91/00360; WO 92/200373; EP03089]. It is contemplated that the antibodies may be preparedn vitrousing known methods in synthetic protein chemistry, including thoseinvolving crosslinking agents. For example, immunotoxins may beconstructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming athioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose includeiminothiolate and methyl4-mercaptobutyrmidate and those disclosed, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980.

5.2.1.7. Multivalent Antibodies

A multivalent antibody may be internalized (and/or catabolized) fasterthan a bivalent antibody by a cell expressing an antigen to which theantibodies bind. The antibodies of the present invention can bemultivalent antibodies (which are other than of the IgM class) withthree or more antigen binding sites (e.g. tetravalent antibodies), whichcan be readily produced by recombinant expression of nucleic acidencoding the polypeptide chains of the antibody. The multivalentantibody can comprise a dimerization domain and three or more antigenbinding sites. The preferred dimerization domain comprises (or consistsof) an Fc region or a hinge region. In this scenario, the antibody willcomprise an Fc region and three or more antigen binding sitesamino-terminal to the Fc region. The preferred multivalent antibodyherein comprises (or consists of) three to about eight, but preferablyfour, antigen binding sites. The multivalent antibody comprises at leastone polypeptide chain (and preferably two polypeptide chains), whereinthe polypeptide chain(s) comprise two or more variable domains. Forinstance, the polypeptide chain(s) may compriseVD1-(X1)_(n)-VD2-(X2)_(n)-Fc, wherein VD1 is a first variable domain,VD2 is a second variable domain, Fc is one polypeptide chain of an Fcregion, X1 and X2 represent an amino acid or polypeptide, and n is 0or 1. For instance, the polypeptide chain(s) may comprise:VH—CH1-flexible linker-VH—CH1-Fc region chain; or VH—CH1-VH—CH1-Fcregion chain. The multivalent antibody herein preferably furthercomprises at least two (and preferably four) light chain variable domainpolypeptides. The multivalent antibody herein may, for instance,comprise from about two to about eight light chain variable domainpolypeptides. The light chain variable domain polypeptides contemplatedhere comprise a light chain variable domain and, optionally, furthercomprise a CL domain.

5.2.1.8. Effector Function Engineering

It may be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respectto effector function, e.g., so as to enhance antigen-dependentcell-mediated cyotoxicity (ADCC) and/or complement dependentcytotoxicity (CDC) of the antibody. This may be achieved by introducingone or more amino acid substitutions in an Fc region of the antibody.Alternatively or additionally, cysteine residue(s) may be introduced inthe Fc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfide bond formation inthis region. The homodimeric antibody-thus generated may have improvedinternalization capability and/or increased complement-mediated cellkilling and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). See Caronet al., J. Exp Med. 176:1191-1195 (1992) and Shopes, B. J. Immunol.148:2918-2922 (1992). Homodimeric antibodies with enhanced anti-tumoractivity may also be prepared using heterobifunctional cross-linkers asdescribed in Wolff et al., Cancer Research 53:2560-2565 (1993).Alternatively, an antibody can be engineered which has dual Fc regionsand may thereby have enhanced complement lysis and ADCC capabilities.See Stevenson et al. Anti-Cancer Drug Design 3:219-230 (1989). Toincrese the serum half life of the antibody, one may incorporate asalvage receptor binding epitope into the antibody (especially anantibody fragment) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,277, for example.As used herein, the term “salvage receptor binding epitope” refers to anepitope of the Fc region of an IgG molecule (e.g., IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, orIgG₄) that is responsible for increasing the ice vivo serum half-life ofthe IgG molecule.

5.2.1.9. Immunoconiugates

The invention also pertains to immunoconjugates comprising an antibodyconjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent, agrowth inhibitory agent, a toxin (e.g., an enzymatically active toxin ofbacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragments thereof), or aradioactive isotope (i.e., a radioconjugate).

Chemotherapeutic agents useful in the generation of suchimmunoconjugates have been described above. Enzymatically active toxinsand fragments thereof that can be used include diphtheria A chain,nonbinding active fragments of diphtheria toxin, exotoxin A chain (fromPseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin A chain, modeccin A chain,alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordii proteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolacaamericana proteins (PAPI, PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantiainhibitor, curcin, crotin, sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin,mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin, enomycin, and the tricothecenes. Avariety of radionuclides are available for the production ofradioconjugated antibodies. Examples include ²¹²Bi, ¹³¹I, ¹³¹In, ⁹⁰Y,and ¹⁸⁶Re. Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made usinga variety of bifunctional protein-coupling agents such asN-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane(IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyladipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate),aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis(p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such asbis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such astolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin canbe prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science, 238: 1098 (1987).Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent forconjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. See WO94/11026.

Conjugates of an antibody and one or more small molecule toxins, such asmaytansinoids, a calicheamicin, a trichothene, and CC1065, and thederivatives of these toxins that have toxin activity, are alsocontemplated herein.

5.2.1.9.1. Maytansine and Maytansinoids

In one preferred embodiment, an anti-PRO antibody (full length orfragments) of the invention is conjugated to one or more maytansinoidmolecules.

Maytansinoids are mitototic inhibitors which actby inhibitingtubulinpolymerization. Maytansine was first isolated from the east Africanshrub Maytenus serrata (U.S. Pat. No.3,896,111). Subsequently, it wasdiscovered that certain microbes also produce maytansinoids, such asmaytansinol and C-3 maytansinol esters (U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,042).Synthetic maytansinol and derivatives and analogues thereof aredisclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,137,230; 4,248,870;4,256,746; 4,260,608; 4,265,814; 4,294,757; 4,307,016; 4,308,268;4,308,269; 4,309,428; 4,313,946; 4,315,929; 4,317,821; 4,322,348;4,331,598; 4,361,650; 4,364,866; 4,424,219; 4,450,254; 4,362,663; and4,371,533, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference.

5.2.1.9.2. Maytansinoid-Antibody Conjugates

In an attempt to improve their therapeutic index, maytansine andmaytansinoids have been conjugated to antibodies specifically binding totumor cell antigens. Immunoconjugates containing maytansinoids and theirtherapeutic use are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,208,020,5,416,064 and European Patent EP 0 425 235 B 1, the disclosures of whichare hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Liu et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 93:8618-8623 (1996) described immunoconjugates comprisinga maytansinoid designated DM1 linked to the monoclonal antibody C242directed against human colorectal cancer. The conjugate was found to behighly cytotoxic towards cultured colon cancer cells, and showedantitumor activity in an in vivo tumor growth assay. Chari et al.,Cancer Research 52:127-131 (1992) describe immunoconjugatesin which amaytansinoid was conjugated via a disulfide linker to the murineantibody A7 binding to an antigen on human colon cancer cell lines, orto another murine monoclonal antibody TA.1 that binds the HER-2/neuoncogene. The cytotoxicity of the TA.1-maytansonoid conjugate was testedin vitro on the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3, which expresses3×10⁵ HER-2 surface antigens per cell. The drug conjugate achieved adegree of cytotoxicity similar to the free maytansonid drug, which couldbe increased by increasing the number of maytansinoid molecules perantibody molecule. The A7-maytansinoid conjugate showed low systemiccytotoxicity in mice.

5.2.1.9.3. Anti-PRO Polypeptide Antibody-Mavtansinoid Coniugates

Anti-PRO antibody-maytansinoid conjugates are prepared by chemicallylincing an anti-PRO antibody to a maytansinoid molecule withoutsignificantly diminishing the biological activity of either the antibodyor the maytansinoid molecule. An average of 3-4 maytansinoid moleculesconjugated per antibody molecule has shown efficacy in enhancingcytotoxicity of target cells without negatively affecting the functionor solubility of the antibody, although even one molecule oftoxin/antibody would be expected to enhance cytotoxicity over the use ofnaked antibody. Maytansinoids are well known in the art and can besynthesized by known techniques or isolated from natural sources.Suitable maytansinoids are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,208,020 and in the other patents and nonpatent publications referredto hereinabove. Preferred maytansinoids are maytansinol and maytansinolanalogues modified in the aromatic ring or at other positions of themaytansinol molecule, such as various maytansinol esters.

There are many linking groups known in the art for makingantibody-maytansinoid conjugates, including, for example, thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,208,020 or EP Patent 0 425 235 B1, and Chariet al., Cancer Research 52:127-131 (1992). The linking groups includedisufide groups, thioether groups, acid labile groups, photolabilegroups, peptidase labile groups, or esterase labile groups, as disclosedin the above-identified patents, disulfide and thioether groups beingpreferred.

Conjugates of the antibody and maytansinoid may be made using a varietyof bifunctional protein coupling agents such asN-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP),succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate,iminothiolane IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such asdimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidylsuberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (suchas bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (suchas bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such astoluene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). Particularly preferred coupling agentsinclude N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP) (Carlssonet al., Biochem. J. 173:723-737 [1978]) andN-succinirmidyl-4-(2-pyridylthio)pentanoate (SPP) to provide for adisulfide linkage.

The linker may be attached to the maytansinoid molecule at variouspositions, depending on the type of the link. For example, an esterlinkage may be formed by reaction with a hydroxyl group usingconventional coupling techniques. The reaction may occur at the C-3position having a hydroxyl group, the C-14 position modified withhyrdoxymethyl, the C-15 position modified with a hydroxyl group, and theC-20 position having a hydroxyl group. In a preferred embodiment, thelinkage is formed at the C-3 position of maytansinol or a maytansinolanalogue.

5.2.1.9.4. Calicheamicin

Another immunoconjugate of interest comprises an anti-PRO antibodyconjugated to one or more calicheamicin molecules. The calicheamicinfamily of antibiotics are capable of producing double-stranded DNAbreaks at sub-picomolar concentrations. For the preparation ofconjugates of the calicheamicin family, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,712,374,5,714,586, 5,739,116, 5,767,285, 5,770,701, 5,770,710, 5,773,001,5,877,296 (all to American Cyanamid Company). Structural analogues ofcalicheamicin which may be used include, but are not limited to γ₁ ^(I),α₂ ^(I), α₃ ^(I), N-acetyl-γ₁ ^(I), PSAG and θ^(I) ₁ (Hinman et al.,Cancer Research 53:3336-3342 (1993), Lode et al., Cancer Research58:2925-2928 (1998) and the aforementioned U.S. patents to AmericanCyanamid). Another anti-tumor drug that the antibody can be conjugatedis QFA which is an antifolate. Both calicheamicin and QFA haveintracellular sites of action and do notreadily cross the plasmamembrane. Therefore, cellular uptake of these agents through antibodymediated internalization greatly enhances their cytotoxic effects.

5.2.1.9.5. Other Cytotoxic Agents

Other anti-tumor agents that can be conjugated to the anti-PROantibodies of the invention include BCNU, streptozoicin, vincristine and5-fluorouracil, the family of agents known collectively LL-E33288complex described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,053,394, 5,770,710, as well asesperamicins (U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,296).

Enzymatically active toxins and fragrnents thereof which can be usedinclude diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheriatoxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudonoiias aeruginiosa), ricin A chain,abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordiiproteins, dianthin proteins, Phtytolaca americaiza proteins (PAPI,PAPII, and PAP-S), momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin,sapaonaria officinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin,phenomycin, enomycin and the tricothecenes. See, for example, WO93/21232 published Oct. 28, 1993.

The present invention further contemplates an immunoconjugate formedbetween an antibody and a compound with nucleolytic activity (e.g., aribonuclease or a DNA endonuclease such as a deoxyribonuclease; DNase).

For selective destruction of the tumor, the antibody may comprise ahighly radioactive atom. A variety of radioactive isotopes are availablefor the production of radioconjugated anti-PRO antibodies. Examplesinclude At²¹¹, I¹³¹, I¹²⁵, Y⁹⁰, Re¹⁸⁶, Re¹⁸⁸, Sm¹⁵³, Bi²¹², P³², Pb²¹²and radioactive iostopes of Lu. When the conjugate is used fordiagnosis, it may comprise a radioactive atom for scintigraphic studies,for example tc^(99m) or I¹²³, or a spin label for nuclear magneticresonance (NMR) imaging (also known as magnetic resonance imaging, mri),such as iodine-123 again, iodine-131, indium-111, fluorine-19,carbon-13, nitrogen-15, oxygen-17, gadolinium, manganese or iron.

The radio—or other labels may be incorporated in the conjugate in knownways. For example, the peptide may be biosynthesized or may besynthesized by chemical amino acid synthesis using suitable amino acidprecursors involving, for example, fluorine-19 in place of hydrogen.Labels such as tc^(99m) or I¹²³, Re¹⁸⁶, Re¹⁸⁸ and In¹¹¹ can be attachedvia a cysteine residue in the peptide. Yttrium-90 can be attached via alysine residue. The IODOGEN method (Fraker et al (1978) Biochem.Biophys. Res. Commun. 80: 49-57 can be used to incorporate iodine-123.“Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunoscintigraphy” (Chatal,CRC Press 1989)describes other methods in detail.

Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent may be made using avariety of bifunctional protein coupling agents such asN-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP),succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate,iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such asdimethyl adipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidylsuberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (suchas bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamnine), bis-diazonium derivatives (suchas bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diusocyanates (such astolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin canbe prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science 238:1098 (1987).Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent forconjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. See WO94/11026. Thelinker may be a “cleavable linker” facilitating release of the cytotoxicdrug in the cell. For example, an acid-labile linker,peptidase-sensitive linker, photolabile linker, dimethyl linker ordisulfide-containing linker (Chari et al., Cancer Research 52:127-131(1992); U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,020) may be used.

Alternatively, a fusion protein comprising the anti-PRO antibody andcytotoxic agent may be made, e.g., by recombinant techniques or peptidesynthesis. The length of DNA may comprise respective regions encodingthe two portions of the conjugate either adjacent one another orseparated by a region encoding a linker peptide which does not destroythe desired properties of the conjugate.

In yet another embodiment, the antibody may be conjugated to a“receptor” (such streptavidin) for utilization in tumor pre-targetingwherein the antibody-receptor conjugate is administered to the patient,followed by removal of unbound conjugate from the circulation using aclearing agent and then administration of a “ligand” (e.g., avidin)which is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent (e.g., a radionucleotide).

5.2.1.10. Imunoliposomes

The anti-PRO antibodies disclosed herein may also be formulated asimmunoliposomes. A “liposome” is a small vesicle composed of varioustypes of lipids, phospholipids and/or surfactant which is useful fordelivery of a drug to a mammal. The components of the liposome arecommonly arranged in a bilayer formation, similar to the lipidarrangement of biological membranes. Liposomes containing the antibodyare prepared by methods known in the art, such as described in Epsteinet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc.Natl Acad. Sci. USA 77:4030 (1980); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and4,544,545; and WO97/38731 published Oct. 23, 1997. Liposomes withenhanced circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556.

Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse phaseevaporation method with a lipid composition comprisingphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and PEG-derivatizedphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded throughfilters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desireddiameter. Fab′ fragments of the antibody of the present invention can beconjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al., J. Biol.Chem. 257:286-288 (1982) via a disulfide interchange reaction. Achemotherapeutic agent is optionally contained within the liposome. SeeGabizon et al., J. National Cancer Inst. 81(19):1484 (1989).

5.2.1.11. Pharmaceutical Compositions of Antibodies

Antibodies specifically binding a PRO polypeptide identified herein, aswell as other molecules identified by the screening assays disclosedbelow, can be administered for the treatment of various disorders asnoted above and below in the form of pharmaceutical compositions.

If the PRO polypeptide is intracellular and whole antibodies are used asinhibitors, internalizing antibodies are preferred. However,lipofections or liposomes can also be used to deliver the antibody, oran antibody fragment, into cells. Where antibody fragments are used, thesmallest inhibitory fragment that specifically binds to the bindingdomain of the target protein is preferred. For example, based upon thevariable-region sequences of an antibody, peptide molecules can bedesigned that retain the ability to bind the target protein sequence.Such peptides can be synthesized chemically and/or produced byrecombinant DNA technology. See, e.g., Marasco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, 90: 7889-7893 (1993).

The formulation herein may also contain more than one active compound asnecessary for the particular indication being treated, preferably thosewith complementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.Alternatively, or in addition, the composition may comprise an agentthat enhances its function, such as, for example, a cytotoxic agent,cytokine, chemotherapeutic agent, or growth-inhibitory agent. Suchmolecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that areeffective for the purpose intended.

The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared,for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacialpolymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules,respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, ricroemulsions, nano-particles, andnanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, supra.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile.This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtrationmembranes.

Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples ofsustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in theform of shaped articles, e.g., fills, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides(U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and γethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™(injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymerand leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. Whilepolymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acidenable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels releaseproteins for shorter time periods. When encapsulated antibodies remainin the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as a resultof exposure to moisture at 37° C., resulting in a loss of biologicalactivity and possible changes in immunogenicity. Rational strategies canbe devised for stabilization depending on the mechanism involved. Forexample, if the aggregation mechanism is discovered to be intermolecularS-S bond formation through thio-disulfide interchange, stabilization maybe achieved by modifying sulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidicsolutions, controlling moisture content, using appropriate additives,and developing specific polymer matrix compositions.

5.2.2. Screening for Antibodies with the Desired Properties

Techniques for generating antibodies have been described above. One mayfurther select antibodies with certain biological characteristics, asdesired.

The growth inhibitory effects of an anti-PRO antibody of the inventionmay be assessed by methods known in the art, e.g., using cells whichexpress a PRO polypeptide either endogenously or following transfectionwith the PRO gene. For example, appropriate tumor cell lines andPRO-transfected cells may be treated with an anti-PRO monoclonalantibody of the invention at various concentrations for a few days(e.g., 2-7 days) and stained with crystal violet or MTT or analyzed bysome other colorimetric assay. Another method of measuring proliferationwould be by comparing ³H-thymidine uptake by the cells treated in thepresence or absence an anti-PRO antibody of the invention. Afterantibody treatment, the cells are harvested and the amount ofradioactivity incorporated into the DNA quantitated in a scintillationcounter. Appropriate positive controls include treatment of a selectedcell line with a growth inhibitory antibody known to inhibit growth ofthat cell line. Growth inhibition of tumor cells in vivo can bedetermined in various ways known in the art. Preferably, the tumor cellis one that overexpresses a PRO polypeptide. Preferably, the anti-PROantibody will inhibit cell proliferation of a PRO-expressing tumor cellin vitro or in vivo by about 25-100% compared to the untreated tumorcell, more preferably, by about 30-100%, and even more preferably byabout 50-100% or 70-100%, at an antibody concentration of about 0.5 to30 μg/ml. Growth inhibition can be measured at an antibody concentrationof about 0.5 to 30 μg/ml or about 0.5 nM to 200 nM in cell culture,where the growth inhibition is determined 1-10 days after exposure ofthe tumor cells to the antibody. The antibody is growth inhibitory inlvivo if administration of the anti-PRO antibody at about 1 μg/kg toabout 100 mg/kg body weight results in reduction in tumor size orreduction of tumor cell proliferation within about 5 days to 3 monthsfrom the first administration of the antibody, preferably within about 5to 30 days.

To select for antibodies which induce cell death, loss of membraneintegrity as indicated by, e.g., propidium iodide (PI), trypan blue or7AAD uptake may be assessed relative to control. A PI uptake assay canbe performed in the absence of complement and immune effector cells. PROpolypeptide-expressing tumor cells are incubated with medium alone ormedium containing of the appropriate monoclonal antibody at e.g, about10 μg/ml. The cells are incubated for a 3 day time period. Followingeach treatment, cells are washed and aliquoted into 35 mmstrainer-capped 12×75 tubes (1 ml per tube, 3 tubes per treatment group)for removal of cell clumps. Tubes then receive PI (10 μg/ml). Samplesmay be analyzed using a FACSCAN® flow cytometer and FACSCONVERT®CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson). Those antibodies which inducestatistically significant levels of cell death as determined by PIuptake may be selected as cell death-inducing antibodies.

To screen for antibodies which bind to an epitope on a PRO polypeptidebound by an antibody of interest, a routine cross-blocking assay such asthat described in Antibodies, A Laboratorv Manual, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, Ed Harlow and David Lane (1988), can be performed. Thisassay can be used to determine if a test antibody binds the same site orepitope as an anti-PRO antibody of the invention. Alternatively, oradditionally, epitope mapping can be performed by methods known in theart. For example, the antibody sequence can be mutagenized such as byalanine scanning, to identify contact residues. The mutant antibody isinitially tested for binding with polyclonal antibody to ensure properfolding. In a different method, peptides corresponding to differentregions of a PRO polypeptide can be used in competition assays with thetest antibodies or with a test antibody and an antibody with acharacterized or known epitope.

5.2.3. Antibody Dependent Enzyme Mediated Prodrug Therapy (ADEPT)

The antibodies of the present invention may also be used in ADEPT byconjugating the antibody to a prodrug-activating enzyme which converts aprodrug (e.g., a peptidyl chemotherapeutic agent, see WO81/01145) to anactive anti-cancer drug. See, for example, WO 88/07378 and U.S. Pat. No.4,975,278.

The enzyme component of the immunoconjugate useful for ADEPT includesany enzyme capable of acting on a prodrug in such a way so as to covertit into its more active, cytotoxic form.

Enzymes that are useful in the method of this invention include, but arenot limited to, alkaline phosphatase useful for convertingphosphate-containing prodrugs into free drugs; arylsulfatase useful forconverting sulfate-containing prodrugs into free drugs; cytosinedeaminase useful for converting non-toxic 5-fluorocytosine into theanti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil; proteases, such as serratia protease,thermolysin, subtilisin, carboxypeptidases and cathepsins (such ascathepsins B and L), that are useful for converting peptide-containingprodrugs into free drugs; D-alanylcarboxypeptidases, useful forconverting prodrugs that contain D-aniino acid substituents;carbohydrate-cleaving enzymes such as β-galactosidase and neuraminidaseuseful for converting glycosylated prodrugs into free drugs; β-lactamaseuseful for converting drugs derivatized with β-lactams into free drugs;and penicillin amidases, such as penicillin V amidase or penicillin Gamidase, useful for converting drugs derivatized at their aminenitrogens with phenoxyacetyl or phenylacetyl groups, respectively, intofree drugs. Alternatively, antibodies with enzymatic activity, alsoknown in the art as “abzymes”, can be used to convert the prodrugs ofthe invention into free active drugs (see, e.g., Massey, Nature328:457458 (1987)). Antibody-abzyme conjugates can be prepared asdescribed herein for delivery of the abzyme to a tumor cell population.

The enzymes of this invention can be covalently bound to the anti-PROantibodies by techniques well known in the art such as the use of theheterobifunctional crosslincing reagents discussed above. Alternatively,fusion proteins comprising at least the antigen binding region of anantibody of the invention linked to at least a functionally activeportion of an enzyme of the inventioncan be constructed usingrecombinant DNA techniques well known in the art (see, e.g., Neubergeret al., Nature 312:604-608 (1984).

5.2.4. Full-Length PRO Polypeltides

The present invention also provides newly identified and isolatednucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides referred to in the presentapplication as PRO polypeptides. In particular, cDNAs (partial andfull-length) encoding various PRO polypeptides have been identified andisolated, as disclosed in further detail in the Examples below.

As disclosed in the Examples below, various cDNA clones have beendeposited with the ATCC. The actual nucleotide sequences of those clonescan readily be determined by the skilled artisan by sequencing of thedeposited clone using routine methods in the art. The predicted aminoacid sequence can be determined from the nucleotide sequence usingroutine skill. For the PRO polypeptides and encoding nucleic acidsdescribed herein, in some cases, Applicants have identified what isbelieved to be the reading frame best identifiable with the sequenceinformation available at the time.

5.2.5. Anti-PRO Antibody and PRO Polypeptide Variants

In addition to the anti-PRO antibodies and full-length native sequencePRO polypeptides described herein, it is contemplated that anti-PROantibody and PRO polypeptide variants can be prepared. Anti-PRO antibodyand PRO polypeptide variants can be prepared by introducing appropriatenucleotide changes into the encoding DNA, and/or by synthesis of thedesired antibody or polypeptide. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that amino acid changes may alter post-translationalprocesses of the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide, such as changingthe number or position of glycosylation sites or altering the membraneanchoring characteristics.

Variations in the anti-PRO antibodies and PRO polypeptides describedherein, can be made, for example, using any of the techniques andguidelines for conservative and non-conservative mutations set forth,for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,934. Variations may be asubstitution, deletion or insertion of one or more codons encoding theantibody or polypeptide that results in a change in the amino acidsequence as compared with the native sequence antibody or polypeptide.Optionally the variation is by substitution of at least one amino acidwith any other amino acid in one or more of the domains of the anti-PROantibody or PRO polypeptide. Guidance in determining which amino acidresidue may be inserted, substituted or deleted without adverselyaffecting the desired activity may be found by comparing the sequence ofthe anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide with that of homologous knownprotein molecules and minimizing the number of amino acid sequencechanges made in regions of high homology. Amino acid substitutions canbe the result of replacing one amino acid with another amino acid havingsimilar structural and/or chemical properties, such as the replacementof a leucine with a serine, i.e., conservative amino acid replacements.Insertions or deletions may optionally be in the range of about 1 to 5amino acids. The variation allowed may be determined by systematicallymaking insertions, deletions or substitutions of amino acids in thesequence and testing the resulting variants for activity exhibited bythe full-length or mature native sequence.

Anti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptide fragments are provided herein.Such fragments may be truncated at the N-terminus or C-terminus, or maylack internal residues, for example, when compared with a full lengthnative antibody or protein. Certain fragments lack amino acid residuesthat are not essential for a desired biological activity of the anti-PROantibody or PRO polypeptide.

Anti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptide fragments may be prepared by anyof a number of conventional techniques. Desired peptide fragments may bechemically synthesized. An alternative approach involves generatingantibody or polypeptide fragments by enzymatic digestion, e.g., bytreating the protein with an enzyme known to cleave proteins at sitesdefined by particular amino acid residues, or by digesting the DNA withsuitable restriction enzymes and isolating the desired fragment. Yetanother suitable technique involves isolating and amplifying a DNAfragment encoding a desired antibody or polypeptide fragment, bypolymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotides that define thedesired termini of the DNA fragment are employed at the 5′ and 3′primers in the PCR. Preferably, anti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptidefragments share at least one biological and/or immunological activitywith the native anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide disclosed herein.

In particular embodiments, conservative substitutions of interest areshown in Table 6 under the heading of preferred substitutions. If suchsubstitutions result in a change in biological activity, then moresubstantial changes, denominated exemplary substitutions in Table 6, oras further described below in reference to amino acid classes, areintroduced and the products screened. TABLE 6 Original ExemplaryPreferred Residue Substitutions Substitutions Ala (A) val; leu; ile valArg (R) lys; gln; asn lys Asn (N) gln; his; lys; arg gln Asp (D) glu gluCys (C) ser ser Gln (Q) asn asn Glu (E) asp asp Gly (G) pro; ala ala His(H) asn; gln; lys; arg arg Ile (I) leu; val; met; ala; phe; leunorleucine Leu (L) norleucine; ile; val; ile met; ala; phe Lys (K) arg;gln; asn arg Met (M) leu; phe; ile leu Phe (F) leu; val; ile; ala; tyrleu Pro (P) ala ala Ser (S) thr thr Thr (T) ser ser Trp (W) tyr; phe tyrTyr (Y) trp; phe; thr; ser phe Val (V) ile; leu; met; phe; leu ala;norleucine

Substantial modifications in function or immunological identity of theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide are accomplished by selectingsubstitutions that differ significantly in their effect on maintaining(a) the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of thesubstitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation, (b) thecharge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site, or (c) thebulk of the side chain. Naturally occurring residues are divided intogroups based on common side-chain properties:

-   -   (1) hydrophobic: norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;    -   (2) neutral hydrophilic: cys, ser, thr;    -   (3) acidic: asp, glu;    -   (4) basic: asn, gin, his, lys, arg;    -   (5) residues that influence chain orientation: gly, pro; and    -   (6) aromatic: trp, tyr, phe.

Non-conservative substitutions will entail exchanging a member of one ofthese classes for another class. Such substituted residues also may beintroduced into the conservative substitution sites or, more preferably,into the remaining (non-conserved) sites.

The variations can be made using methods known in the art such asoligonucleotide-mediated (site-directed) mutagenesis, alanine scanning,and PCR mutagenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis [Carter et al., Nucl.Acids Res., 13:4331 (1986); Zoller et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 10:6487(1987)], cassette mutagenesis [Wells et al., Gene, 34:315(1985)],restrictionselectionmutagenesis [Wells et al., Philos. Trans. R.Soc. London SerA, 317:415 (1986)] orother known techniques can beperformed on the cloned DNA to produce the anti-PRO antibody or PROpolypeptide variant DNA.

Scanning amino acid analysis can also be employed to identify one ormore amino acids along a contiguous sequence. Among the preferredscanning amino acids are relatively small, neutral amino acids. Suchamino acids include alanine, glycine, serine, and cysteine. Alanine istypically a preferred scanning amino acid among this group because iteliminates the side-chain beyond the beta-carbon and is less likely toalter the main-chain conformation of the variant [Cunningham and Wells,Science, 244:1081-1085(1989)]. Alanine is also typically preferredbecause it is the most common amino acid. Further, it is frequentlyfound in both buried and exposed positions [Creighton, The Proteins,(W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y.); Chothia, J. Mol. Biol., 150: 1 (1976)]. Ifalanine substitution does not yield adequate amounts of variant, anisoteric amino acid can be used.

Any cysteine residue not involved in maintaining the proper conformationof the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide also may be substituted,generally with serine, to improve the oxidative stability of themolecule and prevent aberrant crossliring. Conversely, cysteine bond(s)may be added to the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide to improve itsstability (particularly where the antibody is an antibody fragment suchas an Fv fragment).

A particularly preferred type of substitutional variant involvessubstituting one or more hypervariable region residues of a parentantibody (e.g., a humanized or human antibody). Generally, the resultingvariant(s) selected for further development will have improvedbiological properties relative to the parent antibody from which theyare generated. A convenient way for generating such substitutionalvariants involves affinity maturation using phage display. Briefly,several hypervariable region sites (e.g., 6-7 sites) are mutated togenerate all possible amino substitutions at each site. The antibodyvariants thus generated are displayed in a monovalent fashion fromfilamentous phage particles as fusions to the gene III product of M13packaged within each particle. The phage-displayed variants are thenscreened for their biological activity (e.g., binding affinity) asherein disclosed. In order to identify candidate hypervariable regionsites for modification, alanine scanning mutagenesis can be performed toidentify hypervariable region residues contributing significantly toantigen binding. Alternatively, or additionally, it may be beneficial toanalyze a crystal structure of the antigen-antibody complex to identifycontact points between the antibody and human PRO polypeptide. Suchcontact residues and neighboring residues are candidates forsubstitution according to the techniques elaborated herein. Once suchvariants are generated, the panel of variants is subjected to screeningas described herein and antibodies with superior properties in one ormore relevant assays may be selected for further development.

Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants of theanti-PRO antibody are prepared by a variety of methods known in the art.These methods include, but are not limited to, isolation from a naturalsource (in the case of naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants)orpreparation by oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed)mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis, and cassette mutagenesis of an earlierprepared variant or a non-variant version of the anti-PSCA antibody.

5.2.6. Modifications of Anti-PRO Antibodies and PRO Polvpeptides

Covalent modifications of anti-PRO antibodies and PRO polypeptides areincluded within the scope of this invention. One type of covalentmodification includes reacting targeted amino acid residues of ananti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide with an organic derivatizing agentthat is capable of reacting with selected side chains or the N- orC-terminal residues of the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide.Derivatization with bifunctional agents is useful, for instance, forcrosslinking anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide to a water-insolublesupport matrix or surface for use in the method for purifying anti-PROantibodies, and vice-versa. Commonly used crosslinking agents include,e.g., 1,1-bis(diazoacetyl)2-phenylethane, glutaraldehyde,N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, for example, esters with 4azidosalicylicacid, homobifunctional imidoesters, including disuccinimidyl esters suchas 3,3′-dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate), bifunctional maleimides suchas bis-N-maleimido-1,8-octane and agents such asmethyl-3-[(p-azidophenyl)dithio]propioimidate.

Other modifications include deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginylresidues to the corresponding glutamyl and aspartyl residues,respectively, hydroxylation of proline and lysine, phosphorylation ofhydroxyl groups of seryl or threonyl residues, methylation of theα-amino groups of lysine, arginine, and histidine side chains [T. E.Creighton, Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties W. H. Freeman &Co., San Francisco, pp. 79-86 (1983)], acetylation of the N-terminalamine, and amidation of any C-terminal carboxyl group.

Another type of covalent modification of the anti-PRO antibody or PROpolypeptide included within the scope of this invention comprisesaltering the native glycosylation pattern of the antibody orpolypeptide. “Altering the native glycosylation pattern” is intended forpurposes herein to mean deleting one or more carbohydrate moieties foundin native sequence anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide (either byremoving the underlying glycosylation site or by deleting theglycosylation by chemical and/or enzymatic means), and/or adding one ormore glycosylation sites that are not present in the native sequenceanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide. In addition, the phrase includesqualitative changes in the glycosylation of the native proteins,involving a change in the nature and proportions of the variouscarbohydrate moieties present.

Glycosylation of antibodies and other polypeptides is typically eitherN-linked or O-linked. N-linked refers to the attachment of thecarbohydrate moiety to the side chain of an asparagine residue. Thetripeptide sequences asparagine-X-serine and asparagine-X-threonine,where X is any amino acid except proline, are the recognition sequencesfor enzymatic attachment of the carbohydrate moiety to the asparagineside chain. Thus, the presence of either of these tripeptide sequencesin a polypeptide creates a potential glycosylation site. O-linkedglycosylation refers to the attachment of one of the sugarsN-aceylgalactosamine, galactose, or xylose to a hydroxyamino acid, mostcommonly serine or threonine, although 5-hydroxyproline or5-hydroxylysine may also be used.

Addition of glycosylation sites to the anti-PRO antibody or PROpolypeptide is conveniently accomplished by altering the amino acidsequence such that it contains one or more of the above-describedtripeptide sequences (for N-linked glycosylation sites). The alterationmay also be made by the addition of, or substitution by, one or moreserine or threonine residues to the sequence of the original anti-PROantibody or PRO polypeptide (for O-linked glycosylation sites). Theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide amino acid sequence may optionallybe altered through changes at the DNA level, particularly by mutatingthe DNA encoding the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide at preselectedbases such that codons are generated that will translate into thedesired amino acids.

Another means of increasing the number of carbohydrate moieties on theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide is by chemical or enzymaticcoupling of glycosides to the polypeptide. Such methods are described inthe art, e.g., in WO 87/05330 published 11 Sep. 1987, and in Aplin andWriston, CRC Crit Rev. Biochem., pp. 259-306 (1981).

Removal of carbohydrate moieties present on the anti-PRO antibody or PROpolypeptide may be accomplished chemically or enzymatically or bymutational substitution of codons encoding for amino acid residues thatserve as targets for glycosylation. Chemical deglycosylation techniquesare known in the art and described, for instance, by Hakimuddin, et al.,Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 259:52 (1987) and by Edge et al., Anal.Biochem., 118:131 (1981). Enzymatic cleavage of carbohydrate moieties onpolypeptides can be achieved by the use of a variety of endo- andexo-glycosidases as described by Thotak-ura et al., Meth. Enzymol.,138:350 (1987).

Another type of covalent modification of anti-PRO antibody or PROpolypeptide comprises linking the antibody or polypeptide to one of avariety of nonproteinaceous polymers, e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG),polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, in the manner set forth inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144; 4,670,417; 4,791,192 or4,179,337. The antibody or polypeptide also may be entrapped inmicrocapsules prepared, for example, by coacervation techniques or byinterfacial polymerization (for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) microcapsules,respectively), in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-parficles andnanocapsules), or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Oslo, A., Ed., (1980).

The anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide of the present invention mayalso be modified in a way to form chimeric molecules comprising ananti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide fused to another, heterologouspolypeptide or amino acid sequence.

In one embodiment, such a chimeric molecule comprises a fusion of theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide with a tag polypeptide whichprovides an epitope to which an anti-tag antibody can selectively bind.The epitope tag is generally placed at the amino- or carboxyl-terminusof the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide. The presence of suchepitope-tagged forms of the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide can bedetected using an antibody against the tag polypeptide. Also, provisionof the epitope tag enables the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide tobe readily purified by affinity purification using an anti-tag antibodyor another type of affinity matrix that binds to the epitope tag.Various tag polypeptides and their respective antibodies are well knownin the arL Examples include poly-histidine (poly-his) orpoly-histidine-glycine (poly-his-gly) tags; the flu HA tag polypeptideand its antibody 12CA5 [Field et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 8:2159-2165(1988)]; the c-myc tag and the 8F9, 3C7, 6E10, G4, B7 and 9E10antibodies thereto [Evan et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology5:3610-3616 (1985)]; and the Herpes Simplex virus glycoprotein D(gD) tagand its antibidy [Paborsky et al., Protein Engeneering, 3(6):547-553(1990)]. Other tag polypeptides include the Flag-peptide [Hopp et al.,Bio Technology, 6: 1204-1210 (1988)]; the KT3 epitopepeptide [Martin etal., Science, 255:192-194 (1992)]; an α-tubulin epitope peptide [Skinneret al., J. Biol. Chem., 266:15163-15166 (1991)]; and the T7 gene 10protein peptide tag [Lutz-Freyermuth et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,87:6393-6397 (1990)].

In an alternative embodiment, the chimeric molecule may comprise afusion of the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide with animmunoglobulin or a particular region of an immunoglobulin. For abivalent form of the chimeric molecule (also referred to as an“immnunoadhesin”), such a fusion could be to the Fc region of an IgGmolecule. The Ig fusions preferably include the substitution of asoluble (transmembrane domain deleted or inactivated) form of ananti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide in place of at least one variableregion within an Ig molecule. In a particularly preferred embodiment,the immunoglobulin fusion includes the hinge, C₂H and CH₃, or the hinge,CH₁, CH₂ and CH₃ regions of an IgG1 molecule. For the production ofimmunoglobulin fusions see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,130 issued Jun. 27,1995.

5.2.7. Preparation of Anti-PRO Antibodies and PRO Polypeptides

The description below relates primarily to production of anti-PROantibodies and PRO polypeptides by culturing cells transformed ortransfected with a vector containing anti-PRO antibody- and PROpolypeptide-encoding nucleic acid. It is, of course, contemplated thatalternative methods, which are well known in the art, may be employed toprepare anti-PRO antibodies and PRO polypeptides. For instance, theappropriate amino acid sequence, or portions thereof, may be produced bydirect peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques [see, e.g.,Stewart et al., Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, W. H. Freeman Co., SanFrancisco, Calif. (1969); Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149-2154(1963)]. In vitro protein synthesis may be performed using manualtechniques or by automation. Automated synthesis may be accomplished,for instance, using an Applied Biosystems Peptide Synthesizer (FosterCity, Calif.) using manufacturer'sinstructions. Various portions of theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide may be chemically synthesizedseparately and combined using chemical or enzymatic methods to producethe desired anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide.

5.2.7.1. Isolation of DNA Encoding Anti-PRO Antibody or PRO Polypeptide

DNA encoding anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide may be obtained from acDNA library prepared from tissue believed to possess the anti-PROantibody or PRO polypeptide mRNA and to express it at a detectablelevel. Accordingly, human anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide DNA canbe conveniently obtained from a cDNA library prepared from human tissue.The anti-PRO antibody- or PRO polypeptide-encoding gene may also beobtained from a genomic library or by known synthetic procedures (e.g.,automated nucleic acid synthesis).

Libraries can be screened with probes (such as oligonucleotides of atleast about 20-80 bases) designed to identify the gene of interest orthe protein encoded by it. Screening the cDNA or genomic library withthe selected probe may be conducted using standard procedures, such asdescribed in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual(New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989). An alternativemeans to isolate the gene encoding anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptideis to use PCR methodology [Sarnbrook et al., supra; Dieffenbach et al.,PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,1995)].

Techniques for screening a cDNA library are well known in the art. Theoligonucleotide sequences selected as probes should be of sufficientlength and sufficiently unambiguous that false positives are minimized.The oligonucleotide is preferably labeled such that it can be detectedupon hybridization to DNA in the library being screened. Methods oflabeling are well known in the art, and include the use of radiolabelslike ³²P-labeled ATP, biotinylation or enzyme labeling. Hybridizationconditions, including moderate stringency and high stringency, areprovided in Sambrook et al., supra.

Sequences identified in such library screening methods can be comparedand aligned to other known sequences deposited and available in publicdatabases such as GenBank or other private sequence databases. Sequenceidentity (at either the amino acid or nucleotide level) within definedregions of the molecule or across the full-length sequence can bedetermined using methods known in the art and as described herein.

Nucleic acid having protein coding sequence may be obtained by screeningselected cDNA or genomic libraries using the deduced amino acid sequencedisclosed herein for the first time, and, if necessary, usingconventional primer extension procedures as described in Sambrooketal.,supra, to detect precursors and processing intermediates of mRNA thatmay not have been reverse-transcribed into cDNA.

5.2.7.2. Selection and Transformation of Host Cells

Host cells are transfected or transformed with expression or cloningvectors described herein for anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptideproduction and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified asappropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, oramplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences. The cultureconditions, such as media, temperature, pH and the like, can be selectedby the skilled artisan without undue experimentation. In general,principles, protocols, and practical techniques for maximizing theproductivity of cell cultures can be found in Mammalian CellBiotechnology: a Practical Approach, M. Butler, ed. (IRL Press, 1991)and Sambrook et al., supra.

Methods of eukaryotic cell transfection and prokaryotic celltransformation are known to the ordinarily skilled artisan, for example,CaCl₂,CaPO₄, liposome-mediated andelectroporation. Depending on the hostcell used, transformation is performed using standard techniquesappropriate to such cells. The calcium treatment employing calciumchloride, as described in Sambrook et al., supra, or electroporation isgenerally used for prokaryotes. Infection with Agrobacteriuntuinefaciens is used for transformation of certain plant cells, asdescribed by Shaw et al., Gene, 23:315 (1983) and WO 89/05859 published29 Jun. 1989. For mammalian cells without such cell walls, the calciumphosphate precipitation method of Graham and van der Eb, Virology,52:456-457 (1978) can be employed. General aspects of mammalian cellhost system transfections have been described in U.S. Pat. No.4,399,216. Transformations into yeast are typically carried outaccording to the method of Van Solingen et al., J. Bact., 130:946 (1977)and Hsiao et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 76:3829 (1979). However,other methods for introducing DNA into cells, such as by nuclearmicroinjection, electroporation, bacterial protoplast fusion with intactcells, or polycations, e.g., polybrene, polyornithine, may also be used.For various techniques for transforming mammalian cells, see Keown etal., Methods in Enzymology, 185:527-537 (1990) and Mansour et al.,Nature. 336:348-352 (1988).

Suitable host cells for cloning or expressing the DNA in the vectorsherein include prokaryote, yeast, or higher eukaryote cells. Suitableprokaryotes include but are not limited to eubacteria, such asGram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, for example,Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli. Various E. coli strains are publiclyavailable, such as E. coli K12 strain MM294 (ATCC 31,446); E. coli X1776(ATCC 31,537); E. coli strain W3110 (ATCC 27,325) and K5 772 (ATCC53,635). Other suitable prokaryotic host cells includeEnterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia, e.g., E. coli, Enterobacter,Erwinia, Klebsiella, Proteis, Salnmoiella, e.g., Salmonella typhimunium,Serratia, e.g., Serratia marcescaws, and Shigella, as well as Bacillisuch as B. subtilis and B. lichenifornis (e.g., B. lichenifonnis 41Pdisclosed in DD 266,710 published 12 Apr. 1989), Pseudooniias such as P.aeruginosa, and Streptomyces. These examples are illustrative ratherthan Inmiting. Strain W3110 is one particularly preferred host or parenthost because it is a common host strain for recombinant DNA productfermentations. Preferably, the host cell secretes minimal amounts ofproteolytic enzymes. For example, strain W3110 may be modified to effecta genetic mutation in the genes encoding proteins endogenous to thehost, with examples of such hosts including E. coli W3110 strain 1A2,which has the complete genotype tonA; E. coli W3110 strain 9E4, whichhas the complete genotype tonA ptr3; E. coli W3110 strain 27C7 (ATCC55,244), which has the complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA E15(argF-lac)169 degP ompT kan^(r) ; E. coli W3110 strain 37D6, which hasthe complete genotype tonA ptr3 phoA E15 (argF-lac)169 degP ompT rbs7ilvG kan^(r) ; E. coli W3110 strain 40B4, which is strain 37D6 with anon-kanamycin resistant degP deletion mutation; and an E. coli strainhaving mutant periplasmic protease disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,783issued 7 Aug. 1990. Alternatively, in vitro methods of cloning, e.g.,PCR or other nucleic acid polymerase reactions, are suitable.

Full length antibody, antibody fragments, and antibody fusion proteinscan be produced in bacteria, in particular when glycosylation and Fceffector function are not needed, such as when the therapeutic antibodyis conjugated to a cytotoxic agent (e.g., a toxin) and theimmunoconjugate by itself shows effectiveness in tumor cell destruction.Full length antibodies have greater half life in circulation. Productionin E. coli is faster and more cost efficient For expression of antibodyfragments and polypeptides in bacteria, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,648,237 (Carter et. al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,199 (Joly et al.), andU.S. Pat. No. 5,840,523 (Simmons et al.) which describes translationinitiation regio (TIR) and signal sequences for optimizing expressionand secretion, these patents incorporated herein by reference. Afterexpression, the antibody is isolated from the E. coli cell paste in asoluble fraction and can be purified through, e.g., a protein A or Gcolumn depending on the isotype. Final purification can be carried outsimilar to the process for purifying antibody expressed e.g., in CHOcells.

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes such as filamentousfungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for anti-PROantibody- or PRO polypeptide-encoding vectors. Saccharomyces cerevisiaeis a commonly used lower eukaryotic host microorganism. Others includeSchizosaccharomyces pombe (Beach and Nurse, Nature, 290: 140 [1981]; EP139,383 published 2 May 1985); Kluyveromyces hosts (U.S. Pat. No.4,943,529; Fleer et al., Bio/Technolog, 9:968-975 (1991)) such as, e.g.,K. lactis (MW98-8C, CBS683, CBS4574; Louvencourtet al., J. Bacteriol.,154(2):737-742 [1983]), K. fragilis (ATCC 12,424), K. bulgaricus (ATCC16,045), K. wickeramii (ATCC 24,178), K. waltii (ATCC 56,500), K.drosophilarum (ATCC 36,906; Van den Berg et al., Bio/Technology, 8:135(1990)), K. thernotolerans, and K. narxianus; yarrowia (EP 402,226);Pichiapastoris (EP 183,070; Sreekrishna et al., J. Basic Microbiol.28:265-278 [1988]); Caiidida; Trichodernia reesia (EP 244,234);Neurospora crassa (Case et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:5259-5263[1979]); Schwanniomyces such as Schwairmiomyces occidentalis (EP 394,538published 31 Oct. 1990); and filamentous fungi such as, e.g.,Neurospora, Penicillium, Tolypocladium (WO 91/00357 published 10 Jan.1991), and Aspergillus hosts such as A. itidulans (Ballance et al.,Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 112:294-289 [1983]; Tilburn et al.,Gene, 26:205-221 [1983]; Yelton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:1470-1474 [1984]) and A. niger (Kelly and Hynes, EMBO J., 4:475-479[1985]). Methylotropic yeasts are suitable herein and include, but arenot limited to, yeast capable of growth on methanol selected from thegenera consisting of Hatisenula Cawdida, Kloeckera, Pichia,Saccharornyces, Torulopsis, and Riodotorula. A list of specific speciesthat are exemplary of this class of yeasts may be found in C. Anthony,The Biochemistry of Methylotronhs, 269 (1982).

Suitable host cells for the expression of glycosylated anti-PRO antibodyor PRO polypeptide are derived from multicellular organisms. Examples ofinvertebrate cells include insect cells such as Drosophila S2 andSpodoptera Sf9, as well as plant cells, such as cell cultures of cotton,corn, potato, soybean, petunia, tomato, and tobacco. Numerousbaculoviral strains and variants and corresponding permissive insecthost cells from hosts such as Spodoptera frugiperda (caterpillar), Aedesaegypti (mosquito), Aedes albopictus (mosquito), Drosophila melaiogaster(fruitfly), and Bombyx mori have been identified. A variety of viralstrains for transfection are publicly available, e.g., the L-1 variantof Autographa californica NPV and the Bm-5 strain of Bombyx mori NPV,and such viruses may be used as the virus herein according to thepresent invention, particularly for transfection of Spodopterafrugiperda cells.

However, interest has been greatest in vertebrate cells, and propagationof vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routineprocedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are monkeykidney CV1 line transformed by SV40 (COS-7, ATCC CRL 1651); humanembryonic kidney line (293 or 293 cells subeloned for growth insuspension culture, Graham et al., J. Gen Virol. 36:59 (1977)); babyhamster kidney cells (BHK, ATCC CCL 10); Chinese hamster ovarycells/-DHFR (CHO, Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:4216(1980)); mouse sertoli cells (TM4, Mather, Biol. Reprod. 23:243-251(1980)); monkey kidney cells (CV1 ATCC CCL 70); African green monkeykidney cells (VERO-76, ATCC CRL-1587); human cervical carcinoma cells(HELA, ATCC CCL 2); canine kidney cells (MDCK, ATCC CCL 34); buffalo ratliver cells (BRL 3A, ATCC CRL 1442); human lung cells (W138, ATCC CCL75); human liver cells (Hep G2, HB 8065); mouse mammary tumor (MMT060562, ATCC CCL51); TRI cells (Mather et al., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci.383:44-68 (1982)); MRC 5 cells; FS4 cells; a a human hepatoma line (HepG2).

Host cells are transformed with the above-described expression orcloning vectors for anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide production andcultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate forinducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genesencoding the desired sequences.

5.2.7.3. Selection and use of a Replicable Vector

The nucleic acid (e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA) encoding anti-PRO antibodyor PRO polypeptide may be inserted into a replicable vector for cloning(amplification of the DNA) or for expression. Various vectors arepublicly available. The vector may, for example, be in the form of aplasmid, cosmid, viral particle, or phage. The appropriate nucleic acidsequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. Ingeneral, DNA is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonucleasesite(s) using techniques known in the art Vector components generallyinclude, but are not limited to, one or more of a signal sequence, anorigin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, apromoter, and a transcription termination sequence. Construction ofsuitable vectors containing one or more of these components employsstandard ligation techniques which are known to the skilled artisan.

The PRO may be produced recombinantly not only directly, but also as afusion polypeptide with a heterologous polypeptide, which may be asignal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site atthe N-terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide. In general, thesignal sequence may be a component of the vector, or it may be a part ofthe anti-PRO antibody- or PRO polypeptide-encoding DNA that is insertedinto the vector. The signal sequence may be a prokaryotic signalsequence selected, for example, from the group of the alkalinephosphatase, penicillinase, lpp, or heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders.For yeast secretion the signal sequence may be, e.g., the yeastinvertase leader, alpha factor leader (including Saccharoinyces andKluyveromyces α-factor leaders, the latter described in U.S. Pat.No.5,010,182), or acid phosphatase leader, the C. albicatis glucoamylaseleader (EP 362,179published4 Apr. 1990), or the signal described in WO90/13646 published 15 Nov. 1990. In mammalian cell expression, mammaliansignal sequences may be used to direct secretion of the protein, such assignal sequences from secreted polypeptides of the same or relatedspecies, as well as viral secretory leaders.

Both expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence thatenables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Suchsequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses.The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for mostGram-negative bacteria, the 2 μ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast,and various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) areuseful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells.

Expression and cloning vectors will typically contain a selection gene,also termed a selectable marker. Typical selection genes encode proteinsthat (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g.,ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, (b) complementauxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not availablefrom complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase forBacilli.

An example of suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells are thosethat enable the identification of cells competent to take up theanti-PRO antibody- or PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid, such asDHFR or thymidine kinase. An appropriate host cell when wild-type DHFRis employed is the CHO cell line deficient in DHFR activity, preparedand propagated as described by Urlaub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA, 77:4216 (1980). A suitable selection gene for use in yeast is thetrp1 gene present in the yeast plasmid YRp7 [Stinchcomb et al.,Nature,282:39(1979); Kingsman et al., Gene,7:141(1979); Tschemperetal.,Gene 10:157(1980)]. Thetrp1 gene provides a selection marker for amutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, forexample, ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1 [Jones, Genetics, 85:12 (1977)].

Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter operablylinked to the anti-PRO antibody- or PRO polypeptide-encoding nucleicacid sequence to direct mRNA synthesis. Promoters recognized by avariety of potential host cells are well known. Promoters suitable foruse with prokaryotic hosts include the β-lactamase and lactose promotersystems [Chang et al., Nature. 275:615 (1978); Goeddel et al., Nature,281:544 (1979)], alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promotersystem [Goeddel, Nucleic Acids Res., 8:4057 (1980); EP 36,776], andhybrid promoters such as the tac promoter [deBoer et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 80:21-25 (1983)]. Promoters for use in bacterial systemsalso will contain a Shine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequence operably linked tothe DNA encoding anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide.

Examples of suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hostsinclude the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase [Hitzeman et al., J.Biol. Chem., 255:2073 (1980)] or other glycolytic enzymes [Hess et al.,J. Adv. Enzyme Ret. 7:149(1968); Holland, Biochemistry 17:4900(1978)],such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase,pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphateisomerase, 3-phosphoglyceratemutase, pyruvate kinase,triosephosphateisomerase, phosphoglucoseisomerase, and glucokinase.

Other yeast promoters, which are inducible promoters having theadditional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions,are the promoter regions for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C,acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogenmetabolism, metallothionein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Suitablevectors and promoters for use in yeast expression are further describedin EP 73,657.

Anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide transcription from vectors inmammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters obtainedfrom the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus (UK2,211,504 published 5 Jul. 1989), adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2),bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, aretrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and Simian Virus 40 (SV40), fromheterologous mammalian promoters, e.g., the actin promoter or animmunoglobulin promoter, and from heat-shock promoters, provided suchpromoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

Transcription of a DNA encoding the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptideby higher eukaryotes may be increased by inserting an enhancer sequenceinto the vector. Enhancers are cis-acting elements of DNA, usually aboutfrom 10 to 300 bp, that act on a promoter to increase its transcription.Many enhancer sequences are now known from mammalian genes (globin,elastase, albumin, α-fetoprotein, and insulin). Typically, however, onewill use an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include theSV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270),the cytomegalovirus early promoter enhancer, the polyoma enhancer on thelate side of the replication origin, and adenovirus enhancers. Theenhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5′ or 3′ to theanti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide coding sequence, but is preferablylocated at a site 5′ from the promoter.

Expression vectors used in eukaryotic host cells (yeast, fungi, insect,plant, animal, human, or nucleated cells from other multicellularorganisms) will also contain sequences necessary for the termination oftranscription and for stabilizing the mRNA. Such sequences are commonlyavailable from the 5′ and, occasionally 3′, untranslated regions ofeukaryotic or viral DNAs or cDNAs. These regions contain nucleotidesegments transcribed as polyadenylated fragments in the untranslatedportion of the mRNA encoding anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide.

Still other methods, vectors, and host cells suitable for adaptation tothe synthesis of anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptide in recombinantvertebrate cell culture are described in Gething et al., Nature,293:620-625 (1981); Mantei et al., Nature, 281:40-46 (1979); EP 117,060;and EP 117,058.

5.2.7.4. Culturing the Host Cells

The host cells used to produce the anti-PRO antibody or PRO polypeptideof this invention may be cultured in a variety of media. Commerciallyavailable media such as Ham's F10 (Sigma), Minimal Essential Medium((MEM), (Sigma), RPMI-1640 (Sigma), and Dulbecco'sModified Eagle'sMedium ((DMEM), Sigma) are suitable for culturing the host cells. Inaddition, any of the media described in Ham et al. Meth. Enz. 58:44(1979), Barnes et al., Anal. Biochem.102:255 (1980), U.S. Pat. Nos.4,767,704; 4,657,866; 4,927,762; 4,560,655; or 5,122,469; WO 90/03430;WO 87/00195; or U.S. Patent Re. 30,985 may be used as culture media forthe host cells. Any of these media may be supplemented as necessary withhormones and/or other growth factors (such as insulin, transferrin, orepidermal growth factor), salts (such as sodium chloride, calcium,magnesium, and phosphate), buffers (such as HEPES), nucleotides (such asadenosine and thymidine), antibiotics (such as GENTAMYCIN™ drug), traceelements (defined as inorganic compounds usually present at finalconcentrations in the micromolar range), and glucose or an equivalentenergy source. Any other necessary supplements may also be included atappropriate concentrations that would be known to those skilled in theart. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH, and the like, arethose previously used with the host cell selected for expression, andwill be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan.

5.2.7.5. Detecting Gene Amplification/Expression

Gene amplification and/or expression may be measured in a sampledirectly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, Northernblotting to quantitate the transcription of MRNA [Thomas, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 77:5201-5205 (1980)], dot blotting (DNA analysis), orini situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based onthe sequences provided herein. Alternatively, antibodies may be employedthat can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNAduplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes. Theantibodies in turn may be labeled and the assay may be carried out wherethe duplex is bound to a surface, so that upon the formation of duplexon the surface, the presence of antibody bound to the duplex can bedetected.

Gene expression, alternatively, may be measured by immunologicalmethods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells or tissuesections and assay of cell culture or body fluids, to quantitatedirectly the expression of gene product. Antibodies useful forimmunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be eithermonoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal.Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against a native sequencePRO polypeptide or against a synthetic peptide based on the DNAsequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to PRO DNAand encoding a specific antibody epitope.

5.2.7.6. Purification of Anti-PRO Antibody and PRO Polypeptide

Forms of anti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptide may be recovered fromculture medium or from host cell lysates. If membrane-bound, it can bereleased from the membrane using a suitable detergent solution (e.g.Triton-X 100) or by enzymatic cleavage. Cells employed in expression ofanti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptide can be disrupted by variousphysical or chemical means, such as freeze-thaw cycling, sonication,mechanical disruption, or cell lysing agents.

It may be desired to purify anti-PRO antibody and PRO polypeptide fromrecombinant cell proteins or polypeptides. The following procedures areexemplary of suitable purification procedures: by fractionation on anion-exchange column; ethanol precipitation; reverse phase HPLC;chromatography on silica or on a cation-exchange resin such as DEAE;chromatofocusing; SDS-PAGE; ammonium sulfate precipitation; gelfiltration using, for example, Sephadex G-75; protein A Sepharosecolumns to remove contaminants such as IgG; and metal chelating columnsto bind epitope-tagged forms of the anti-PRO antibody and PROpolypeptide. Various methods of protein purification may be employed andsuch methods are known in the art and described for example inDeutscher, Methods in Enzymology, 182 (1990); Scopes, ProteinPurification: Principles and Practice, Springer-Verlag, New York (1982).The purification step(s) selected will depend, for example, on thenature of the production process used and the particular anti-PROantibody or PRO polypeptide produced.

When usingrecombinant techniques, the antibodycan be producedintracellularly, in the periplasmic space, or directly secreted into themedium. If the antibody is produced intracellularly, as a first step,the particulate debris, either host cells or lysed fragments, areremoved, for example, by centrifugation or ultrafiltration. Carter etal., Bio/Technology 10:163-167 (1992) describe a procedure for isolatingantibodies which are secreted to the periplasmic space of E. coli.Briefly, cel paste is thawed in the presence of sodium acetate (pH 3.5),EDTA, and phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF) over about 30 min. Celldebris can be removed by centrifugation. Where the antibody is secretedinto the medium, supernatants from such expression systems are generallyfirst concentrated using a commercially available protein concentrationfilter, for example, an Amicon or Millipore Pellicon ultrafiltrationunit. A protease inhibitor such as PMSF may be included in any of theforegoing steps to inhibit proteolysis and antibiotics may be includedto prevent the growth of adventitious contaminants.

The antibody composition prepared from the cells can be purified using,for example, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis,dialysis, and affinity chromatography, with affinity chromatographybeing the preferred purification technique. The suitability of protein Aas an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of anyimmunoglobulin Fc domain that is present in the antibody. Protein A canbe used to purify antibodies that are based on human γ1, γ2 or γ4 heavychains (Lindmark et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 62:1-13 (1983)). Protein G isrecommended for all mouse isotypes and for human γ3 (Guss et al., EMBOJ. 5:15671575 (1986)). The matrix to which the affinity ligand isattached is most often agarose, but other matrices are available.Mechanically stable matrices such as controlled pore glass orpoly(styrenedivinyl)benzene allow for faster flow rates and shorterprocessing times than can be achieved with agarose. Where the antibodycomprises a C_(H)3 domain, the Bakerbond ABX™ resin (J. T. Baker,Phillipsburg, N.J.) is useful for purification. Other techniques forprotein purification such as fractionation on an ion-exchange column,ethanol precipitation, Reverse Phase HPLC, chromatography on silica,chromatography on heparin SEPHAROSE™ chromatography on an anion orcation exchange resin (such as a polyaspartic acid column),chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium sulfate precipitation are alsoavailable depending on the antibody to be recovered.

Following any preliminary purification step(s), the mixture comprisingthe antibody of interest and contaminants may be subjected to low pHhydrophobic interaction chromatography using an elution buffer at a pHbetween about 2.5-4.5, preferably performed at low salt concentrations(e.g., from about 0-0.25M salt).

5.2.8. Pharmaceutical Formulations

Therapeutic formulations of the anti-PRO antibodies and/or PROpolypeptides used in accordance with the present invention are preparedfor storage by mixing an antibody having the desired degree of puritywith optional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients orstabilizers (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A.Ed. (1980)), in the form of lyophilized formulations or aqueoussolutions. Acceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxicto recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and includebuffers such as acetate, Tris, phosphate, citrate, and other organicacids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid and methionine;preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride;hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride;phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methyl or propylparaben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; and m-cresol);low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues) polypeptides;proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins;hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such asglycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, or lysine;monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates includingglucose, mannose, or dextrs; chelating agents such as EDTA; tonicifierssuch as trehalose and sodium chloride; sugars such as sucrose, mannitol,trehalose or sorbitol; surfactant such as polysorbate; salt-formingcounter-ions such as sodium; metal complexes (e.g., Zn-proteincomplexes); and/or non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN®, PLURONICS® orpolyethylene glycol (PEG). The antibody preferably comprises theantibody at a concentration of between 5-200 mg/ml, preferably between10-100 mg/ml.

The formulations herein may also contain more than one active compoundas necessary for the particular indication being treated, preferablythose with complementary activities that do not adversely affect eachother. For example, in addition to an anti-PRO antibody, it may bedesirable to include in the one formulation, an additional antibody,e.g., a second anti-PRO antibody which binds a different epitope on thePRO polypeptide, or an antibody to some other target such as a growthfactor that affects the growth of the particular disorder.Alternatively, or additionally, the composition may further comprise achemotherapeutic agent, cytotoxic agent, cytoidne, growth inhibitoryagent, anti-hormonal agent, and/or cardioprotectant. Such molecules aresuitably present in combination in amounts that are effective for thepurpose intended.

The active ingredients may also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared,for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacialpolymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacylate) inicrocapsules,respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles andnanocapsules) or in macroemulsions. Such techniques are disclosed inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980).

Sustained-release preparations may be prepared. Suitable examples ofsustained-release preparations include semi-permeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in theform of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides(U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and γethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT®(injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymerand leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile.This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtrationmembranes.

5.2.9. Diagnosis and Treatment with Anti-PRO Antibodies and PROPolypeptides

In one embodiment, PRO polypeptide overexpression may be analyzed byimmunohistochemistry (IHC). Parrafin embedded tissue sections from atissue biopsy (e.g., colon tissue from a patient with an IBD) may besubjected to the IHC assay and accorded a PRO protein staining intensitycriteria as follows:

-   -   Score 0— no staining is observed or membrane staining is        observed in less than 10% of tissue cells.    -   Score 1+— a faint/barely perceptible membrane staining is        detected in more than 10% of the tissue cells. The cells are        only stained in part of their membrane.    -   Score 2+— a weak to moderate complete membrane staining is        observed in more than 10% of the tissue cells.

Score 3+— a moderate to strong complete membrane staining is observed inmore than 10% of the tissue cells.

Those tissues (e.g., colon tissue from a patient with an IBD) with 0 or1+ scores for PRO polypeptide expression may be characterized as notoverexpressing PRO, whereas those tissues with 2+ or 3+ scores may becharacterized as overexpressing PRO.

Alternatively, or additionally, FISH assays such as the INFORM® (sold byVentana, Ariz.) or PATHVISION® (Vysis, Ill.) may be carried out onformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue to determine the extent (ifany) of PRO overexpression in the tissue (e.g., colon tissue from apatient with an IBD).

PRO overexpression or amplification may be evaluated using an in vivodiagnostic assay, e.g., by administering a molecule (such as anantibody) which binds the molecule to be detected and is tagged with adetectable label (e.g., a radioactive isotope or a fluorescentlabel) andexternally scanning the patient for localization of the label.

As described above, the anti-PRO antibodies of the invention havevarious non-therapeutic applications. The anti-PRO antibodies of thepresent invention can be useful for diagnosis and staging of PROpolypeptide-expressing disorders (e.g., in radioimaging). The antibodiesare also useful for purification or immunoprecipitation of PROpolypeptide from cells, for detection and quantitation of PROpolypeptide in vitro, e.g., in an ELISA or a Western blot, to kill andeliminate PRO-expressing cells from a population of mixed cells as astep in the purification of other cells.

Where the disorder is a cancer, current treatment involves one or acombination of the following therapies: surgery to remove the canceroustissue, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Anti-PRO antibody therapymay be especially desirable in elderly patients who do not tolerate thetoxicity and side effects of chemotherapy well and in metastatic diseasewhere radiation therapy has limited usefulness. The tumor targetinganti-PRO antibodies of the invention are useful to alleviatePRO-expressing cancers upon initial diagnosis of the disease or duringrelapse. For therapeutic applications, the anti-PRO antibody can be usedalone, or in combination therapy with, e.g., hormones, antiangiogens, orradiolabelled compounds, or with surgery, cryotherapy, and/orradiotherapy. Anti-PRO antibody treatment can be administered inconjunction with other forms of conventional therapy, eitherconsecutively with, pre- or post-conventional therapy. Chemotherapeuticdrugs such as TAXOTERE® (docetaxel), TAXOL® (palictaxel), estramustineand mitoxantrone are used in treating cancer, in particular, in goodrisk patients. In the present method of the invention for treating oralleviating cancer, the cancer patient can be administered anti-PROantibody in conduction with treatment with the one or more of thepreceding chemotherapeutic agents. In particular, combination therapywith palictaxel and modified derivatives (see, e.g., EP0600517) iscontemplated. The anti-PRO antibody will be administered with atherapeutically effective dose of the chemotherapeutic agent. In anotherembodiment, the anti-PRO antibody is administered in conjunction withchemotherapy to enhance the activity and efficacy of thechemotherapeutic agent, e.g., paclitaxel. The Physicians' Desk Reference(PDR) discloses dosages of these agents that have been used in treatmentof various cancers. The dosing regimen and dosages of theseaforementioned chemotherapeutic drugs that are therapeutically effectivewill depend on the particular cancer being treated, the extent of thedisease and other factors familiar to the physician of skill in the artand can be determined by the physician.

In one particular embodiment, an immunoconjugate comprising the anti-PROantibody conjugated with a cytotoxic agent is administered to thepatient. Preferably, the immunoconjugate bound to the PRO protein isinternalized by the cell, resulting in increased therapeutic efficacy ofthe immunoconjugate in killing the cancer cell to which it binds. In apreferred embodiment, the cytotoxic agent targets or interferes with thenucleic acid in the cancer cell. Examples of such cytotoxic agents aredescribed above and include maytansinoids, calicheamicins, ribonucleasesand DNA endonucleases.

The anti-PRO antibodies or immunoconjugates are administered to a humanpatient, in accord with known methods, such as intravenousadministration, e.g., as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a periodof time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intracerobrospinal,subcutaneous, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral,topical, or inhalation routes. Intravenous or subcutaneousadministration of the antibody is preferred.

Other therapeutic regimens may be combined with the administration ofthe anti-PRO antibody. The combined administration includesco-administration, using separate formulations or a singlepharmaceutical formulation, and consecutive administration in eitherorder, wherein preferably there is a time period while both (or all)active agents simultaneously exert their biological activities.Preferably such combined therapy results in a synergistic therapeuticeffect.

It may also be desirable to combine administration of the anti-PROantibody or antibodies, with administration of an antibody directedagainst another antigen associated with the particular disorder.

In another embodiment, the antibody therapeutic treatment method of thepresent invention involves the combined administration of an anti-PROantibody (or antibodies) and one or more chemotherapeutic agents orgrowth inhibitory agents, including co-administration of cocktails ofdifferent chemotherapeutic agents. Chemotherapeutic agents includeestramustine phosphate, prednimustine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil,melphalan, cyclophosphamide, hydroxyurea and hydroxyureataxanes (such aspaclitaxel and doxetaxel) and/or anthracycline antibiotics. Preparationand dosing schedules for such chemotherapeutic agents may be usedaccording to manufacturers' instructions or as determined empirically bythe skilled practitioner. Preparation and dosing schedules for suchchemotherapy are also described in Chemotherapy Service Ed., M. C.Perry, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md. (1992).

The antibody may be combined with an anti-hormonal compound; e.g., ananti-estrogen compound such as tamoxifen; an anti-progesterone such asonapristone (see, EP 616 812); or an anti-androgen such as flutamide, indosages known for such molecules. Where the disorder to be treated isandrogen independent, the patient may previously have been subjected toanti-androgen therapy and, after the disorder becomes androgenindependent, the anti-PRO antibody (and optionally other agents asdescribed herein) may be administered to the patient.

Sometimes, it may be beneficial to also co-administer a cardioprotectant(to prevent or reduce myocardial dysfunction associated with thetherapy) or one or more cytokines to the patient. In addition to theabove therapeutic regimes, the patient may be subjected to surgicalremoval of tissue cells and/or radiation therapy, before, simultaneouslywith, or post antibody therapy. Suitable dosages for any of the aboveco-administered agents are those presently used and may be lowered dueto the combined action (synergy) of the agent and anti-PRO antibody.

For the prevention or treatment of disease, the dosage and mode ofadministration will be chosen by the physician according to knowncriteria The appropriate dosage of antibody will depend on the type ofdisease to be treated, as defined above, the severity and course of thedisease, whether the antibody is administered for preventive ortherapeutic purposes, previous therapy, the patient's clinical historyand response to the antibody, and the discretion of the attendingphysician. The antibody is suitably administered to the patient at onetime or over a series of treatments. Preferably, the antibody isadministered by intravenous infusion or by subcutaneous injections.Depending on the type and severity of the disease, about 1 μg/kg toabout 50 mg/kg body weight (e.g., about 0.1-15mg/kg/dose) of antibodycan be an initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient,whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or bycontinuous infusion. A dosing regimen can comprise administering aninitial loading dose of about 4 mg/kg, followed by a weekly maintenancedose of about 2 mg/kg of the anti-PRO antibody. However, other dosageregimens may be useful. A typical daiiy dosage might range from about 1μg/kg to 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above.For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending onthe condition, the treatment is sustained until a desired suppression ofdisease symptoms occurs. The progress of this therapy can be readilymonitored by conventional methods and assays and based on criteria knownto the physician or other persons of skill in the art.

Aside from administration of the antibody protein to the patient, thepresent application contemplates administration of the antibody by genetherapy. Such administration of nucleic acid encoding the antibody isencompassed by the expression ” administering a therapeuticallyeffective amount of an antibody”. See, for example, WO96/07321 publishedMar. 14, 1996 concerning the use of gene therapy to generateintracellular antibodies.

There are two major approaches to getting the nucleic acid (optionallycontained in a vector) into the patient's cells; in vivo and ex vivo.For in vivo delivery the nucleic acid is injected directly into thepatient, usually at the site where the antibody is required. For ex vivotreatment, the patient's cells are removed, the nucleic acid isintroduced into these isolated cells and the modified cells areadministered to the patient either directly or, for example,encapsulated within porous membranes which are implanted into thepatient (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,892,538 and 5,283,187). There are avariety of techniques available for introducing nucleic acids intoviable cells. The techniques vary depending upon whether the nucleicacid is transferred into cultured cells in vitro, or in vivo in thecells of the intended host Techniques suitable for the transfer ofnucleic acid into mammalian cells in vitro include the use of liposomes,electroporation, microinjection, cell fusion, DEAE-dextran, the calciumphosphate precipitation method, etc. A commonly used vector for ex vivodelivery of the gene is a retroviral vector.

The currently preferred in vivo nucleic acid transfer techniques includetransfection with viral vectors (such as adenovirus, Herpes simplex Ivirus, or adeno-associated virus) and lipid-based systems (useful lipidsfor lipid-mediated transfer of the gene are DOTMA, DOPE and DC-Chol, forexample). For review of the currently known gene marking and genetherapy protocols see Anderson et al., Science 256:808-813 (1992). Seealso WO 93/25673 and the references cited therein.

The anti-PRO antibodies of the invention can be in the different formsencompassed by the definition of “antibody” herein. Thus, the antibodiesinclude full length or intact antibody, antibody fragments, nativesequence antibody or amino acid variants, humanized, chimeric or fusionantibodies, immunoconjugates, and functional fragments thereof. Infusion antibodies an antibody sequence is fused to a heterologouspolypeptide sequence. The antibodies can be modified in the Fc region toprovide desired effector functions. As discussed in more detail in thesections herein, with the appropriate Fc regions, the naked antibodybound on the cell surface can induce cytotoxicity, e.g., viaantibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or by recruitingcomplement in complement dependent cytotoxicity, or some othermechanism. Alternatively, where it is desirable to eliminate or reduceeffector function, so as to minimize side effects or therapeuticcomplications, certain other Fc regions may be used.

In one embodiment, the antibody competes for binding or bindsubstantially to, the same epitope as the antibodies of the invention.Antibodies having the biological characteristics of the present anti-PROantibodies of the invention are also contemplated.

Methods of producing the above antibodies are described in detailherein.

The present anti-PRO antibodies are useful for treating a PRO-expressingdisorder ( e.g., an IBD) or alleviating one or more symptoms of thedisorder in a mammal. Such an IBD includes, but is not limited to,Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The antibody is able to bind toat least a portion of the cells that express the PRO polypeptide in themammal. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody is effective to destroyor kill PRO-expressing cells or inhibit the growth of such cells, invitro or in vivo, upon binding to PRO polypeptide on the cell. Such anantibody includes a naked anti-PRO antibody (not conjugated to anyagent). Naked antibodies that have cytotoxic or cell growth inhibitionproperties can be further harnessed with a cytotoxic agent to renderthem even more potent in cell destruction. Cytotoxic properties can beconferred to an anti-PRO antibody by, e.g., conjugating the antibodywith a cytotoxic agent, to form an immunoconjugate as described herein.The cytotoxic agent or a growth inhibitory agent is preferably a smallmolecule. Toxins such as calicheamicin or a maytansinoid and analogs orderivatives thereof, are preferable.

The invention provides a composition comprising an anti-PRO antibody ofthe invention, and a carrier. For the purposes of treating a disorder(e.g., an IBD), compositions can be administered to the patient in needof such treatment, wherein the composition can comprise one or moreanti-PRO antibodies present as an immunoconjugate or as the nakedantibody. In a further embodiment, the compositions can comprise theseantibodies in combination with other therapeutic agents such ascytotoxic or growth inhibitory agents, including chemotherapeuticagents. The invention also provides formulations comprising an anti-PROantibody of the invention, and a carrier. In one embodiment, theformulation is a therapeutic formulation comprising a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier.

Another aspect of the invention is isolated nucleic acids encoding theanti-PRO antibodies. Nucleic acids encoding both the H and L chains andespecially the hypervariable region residues, chains which encode thenative sequence antibody as well as variants, modifications andhumanized versions of the antibody, are encompassed.

The invention also provides methods useful for treating a PROpolypeptide-expressing disorder (e.g., an IBD) or alleviating one ormore symptoms of the disorder in a mammal, comprising administering atherapeutically effective amount of an anti-PRO antibody to the mammal.The antibody therapeutic compositions can be administered short term(acute) or chronic, or intermittent as directed by physician. Alsoprovided are methods of inhibiting the growth of, and killing a PROpolypeptide-expressing cell.

The invention also provides kits and articles of manufacture comprisingat least one anti-PRO antibody. Kits containing anti-PRO antibodies finduse e.g., for PRO cell killing assays, for purification orimmunoprecipitation of PRO polypeptide from cells. For example, forisolation and purification of PRO, the kit can contain an anti-PROantibody coupled to beads (e.g., sepharose beads). Kits can be providedwhich contain the antibodies for detection and quantitation of an IBD invitro, e.g., in an ELISA or a Western blot. Such antibody useful fordetection may be provided with a label such as a fluorescent orradiolabel.

5.2.10. Articles of Manufacture and Kits

Another embodiment of the invention is an article of manufacturecontaining materials useful for the treatment of PRO expressingdisorders (e.g., an IBD). The article of manufacture comprises acontainer and a label or package insert on or associated with thecontainer. Suitable containers include, for example, bottles, vials,syringes, etc. The containers may be formed from a variety of materialssuch as glass or plastic. The container holds a composition which iseffective for treating the cancer condition and may have a sterileaccess port (for example the container may be an intravenous solutionbag or a vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injectionneedle). At least one active agent in the composition is an anti-PROantibody of the invention. The label or package insert indicates thatthe composition is used for treating a specific disorder (e.g., an IBDsuch as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis). The label or packageinsert will further comprise instructions for administering the antibodycomposition to the IBD patient. Additionally, the article of manufacturemay further comprise a second container complising apharmaceutically-acceptable buffer, such as bacteriostatic water forinjection (BWF), phosphate-buffered saline, Ringer's solution anddextrose solution. It may further include other materials desirable froma commercial and user standpoint, including other buffers, diluents,filters, needles, and syringes.

Kits are also provided that are useful for various purposes, e.g., forPRO-expressing cell killing assays, for purification orimmunoprecipitation of PRO polypeptide from cells. For isolation andpurification of PRO polypeptide, the kit can contain an anti-PROantibody coupled to beads (e.g., sepharose beads). Kits can be providedwhich contain the antibodies for detection and quantitation of PROpolypeptide ini vitro, e.g., in an ELISA or a Western blot As with thearticle of manufacture, the kit comprises a container and a label orpackage insert on or associated with the container. The container holdsa composition comprising at least one anti-PRO antibody of theinvention. Additional containers may be included that contain, e.g.,diluents and buffers, control antibodies. The label or package insertmay provide a description of the composition as well as instructions forthe intended in vitro or diagnostic use.

5.2.11. Uses of PRO Polypeptides 5.2.11.1. Animal Models using PROPoloerptides

Recombinant (transgenic) animnal models can be engineered by introducingthe coding portion of the PRO genes identified herein into the genome ofanimals of interest, using standard techniques for producing transgenicanimals. Animals that can serve as a target for transgenic manipulationinclude, without limitation, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep,goats, pigs, and non-human primates, e.g., baboons, chimpanzees andmonkeys. Techniques known in the art to introduce a transgene into suchanimals include pronucleic microinjection (U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191);retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into germ lines (e.g., Van der Puttenet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 6148-615 (1985)); gene targetingin embryonic stem cells (Thompson et al., Cell,56: 313-321 (1989));electroporation of embryos (Lo, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3: 1803-1814 (1983));and sperm-mediated gene transfer. Lavitrano et al., Cell, 57: 717-73(1989). For a review, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866.

For the purpose of the present invention, transgenic animals includethose that carry the transgene only in part of their cells (“mosaicanimals”). The transgene can be integrated either as a single transgene,or in concatamers, e.g., head-to-head or head-to-tail tandems. Selectiveintroduction of a tnansgene into a particular cell type is also possibleby following, for example, the technique of Lasko et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 89: 6232-636 (1992). The expression of the transgene intransgenic animals can be monitored by standard techniques. For example,Southern blot analysis or PCR amplification can be used to verify theintegration of the transgene. The level of mRNA expression can then beanalyzed using techniques such as ini situ hybridization, Northern blotanalysis, PCR, or immunocytochemistry. The animals are further examinedfor signs of tumor or cancer development.

Alternatively, “knock-out” animals can be constructed that have adefective or altered gene encoding a PRO polypeptide identified herein,as a result of homologous recombination between the endogenous geneencoding the PRO polypeptide and altered genomic DNA encoding the samepolypeptide introduced into an embryonic cell of the animal. Forexample, cDNA encoding a particular PRO polypeptide can be used to clonegenomnic DNA encoding that polypeptide in accordance with establishedtechniques. A portion of the genomic DNA encoding a particular PROpolypeptide can be deleted or replaced with another gene, such as a geneencoding a selectable marker that can be used to monitor integration.Typically, several kilobases of unaltered flanking DNA (both at the 5′and 3′ ends) are included in the vector. See, e.g., Thomas and Capecchi,Cell, 51: 503 (1987) for a description of homologous recombinationvectors. The vector is introduced into an embryonic stem cell line(e.g., by electroporation) and cells in which the introduced DNA hashomologously recombined with the endogenous DNA are selected. See, e.g.,Li et al., Cell, 69: 915 (1992). The selected cells are then injectedinto a blastocyst of an animal (e.g., a mouse or rat) to formaggregation chimeras. See, e.g., Bradley, in Teratocarcinomas andEmbryonic Stem Cells: A Practical Approach, E. J. Robertson, ed. (IRL:Oxford, 1987), pp. 113-152. A chimeric embryo can then be implanted intoa suitable pseudopregnant female foster animal and the embryo brought toterm to create a “knock-out” animal. Progeny harboring the homologouslyrecombined DNA in their germ cells can be identified by standardtechniques and used to breed animals in which all cells of the animalcontain the homologously recombined DNA. Knockout animals can becharacterized, for instance, by their ability to defend against certainpathological conditions and by their development of pathologicalconditions due to absence of the PRO polypeptide.

5.2.11.2. Tissue Distribution

The results of the assays described herein can be verified by furtherstudies, such as by determining mRNA expression in various humantissues.

As noted before, gene amplification and/or gene expression in varioustissues may be measured by conventional Southern blotting, Northernblotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA (Thomas, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 77:5201-5205 (1980)), dot blotting (DNA analysis), or insitu hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on thesequences provided herein. Alternatively, antibodies may be employedthat can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNAduplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes.

Gene expression in various tissues, alternatively, may be measured byimmunological methods, such as immunohistochemical staining of tissuesections and assay of cell culture or body fluids, to quantitatedirectly the expression of gene product Antibodies useful forimmunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be eithermonoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal.Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against a native-sequencePRO polypeptide or against a synthetic peptide based on the DNAsequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to PRO DNAand encoding a specific antibody epitope. General techniques forgenerating antibodies, and special protocols for in situ hybridizationare provided hereinbelow.

5.2.11.3. Antibody Binding Studies

The results of the assays described herein can be further verified byantibody binding studies, in which the ability of anti-PRO antibodies toinhibit the effect of the PRO polypeptides on cells used in the assaysis tested. Exemplary antibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal,humanized, bispecific, and heteroconjugate antibodies, the preparationof which were described above.

Antibody binding studies may be carried out in any known assay method,such as competitive binding assays, direct and indirect sandwich assays,and immunoprecipitation assays. Zola, Monoclonal Antibodies: A Manual ofTechniques (CRC Press, Inc., 1987), pp.147-158.

Competitive binding assays rely on the ability of a labeled standard tocompete with the test sample analyte for binding with a limited amountof antibody. The amount of target protein in the test sample isinversely proportional to the amount of standard that becomes bound tothe antibodies. To facilitate determining the amount of standard thatbecomes bound, the antibodies preferably are insolubilized before orafter the competition, so that the standard and analyte that are boundto the antibodies may conveniently be separated from the standard andanalyte that remain unbound.

Sandwich assays involve the use of two antibodies, each capable ofbinding to a different immunogenic portion, or epitope, of the proteinto be detected. In a sandwich assay, the test sample analyte is bound bya first antibody that is immobilized on a solid support, and thereaftera second antibody binds to the analyte, thus forming an insolublethree-part complex. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110. The secondantibody may itself be labeled with a detectable moiety (direct sandwichassays) or may be measured using an anti-immunoglobulin antibody that islabeled with a detectable moiety (indirect sandwich assay). For example,one type of sandwich assay is an ELISA assay, in which case thedetectable moiety is an enzyme.

For immunohistochemistry, the tissue sample may be fresh or frozen ormay be embedded in paraffin and fixed with a preservative such asformalin, for example.

5.2.11.4. Gene Therapy

Described below are methods and compositions whereby disease symptomsmay be ameliorated. Certain diseases are brought about, at least inpart, by an excessive level of gene product, or by the presence of agene product exhibiting an abnormal or excessive activity. As such, thereduction in the level and/or activity of such gene products would bringabout the amelioration of such disease symptoms.

Alternatively, certain other diseases are brought about, at least inpart, by the absence or reduction of the level of gene expression, or areduction in the level of a gene product's activity. As such, anincrease in the level of gene expression and/or the activity of suchgene products would bring about the amelioration of such diseasesymptoms.

In some cases, the up-regulation of a gene in a disease state reflects aprotective role for that gene product in responding to the diseasecondition. Enhancement of such a target gene's expression, or theactivity of the target gene product, will reinforce the protectiveeffect it exerts. Some disease states may result from an abnormally lowlevel of activity of such a protective gene. In these cases also, anincrease in the level of gene expression and/or the activity of suchgene products would bring about the amelioration of such diseasesymptoms.

The PRO polypeptides described herein and polypeptidyl agonists andantagonists may be employed in accordance with the present invention byexpression of such polypeptides in vivo, which is often referred to asgene therapy.

There are two major approaches to getting the nucleic acid (optionallycontained in a vector) into the patient's cells: in vivo and ex vivo.For in vivo delivery the nucleic acid is injected directly into thepatient, usually at the sites where the PRO polypeptide is required,Le., the site of synthesis of the PRO polypeptide, if known, and thesite (e.g., wound) where biological activity of the PRO polypeptide isneeded. For ex vivo treatment, the patient's cells are removed, thenucleic acid is introduced into these isolated cells, and the modifiedcells are administered to the patient either directly or, for example,encapsulated within porous membranes that are implanted into the patient(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,892,538 and 5,283,187). There are a varietyof techniques available for introducing nucleic acids into viable cells.The techniques vary depending upon whether the nucleic acid istransferred into cultured cells in vitro, or transferred in vivo in thecells of the intended host. Techniques suitable for the transfer ofnucleic acid into mammalian cells in vitro include the use of liposomes,electroporation, microinjection, transduction, cell fusion,DEAE-dextran, the calcium phosphate precipitation method, etc.Transduction involves the association of a replication-defective,recombinant viral (preferably retroviral) particle with a cellularreceptor, followed by introduction of the nucleic acids contained by theparticle into the cell. A commonly used vector for ex vivo delivery ofthe gene is a retrovirus.

The currently preferred in vivo nucleic acid transfer techniques includetransfection with viral or non-viral vectors (such as adenovirus,lentivirus, Herpes simplex I virus, or adeno-associated virus (AAV)) andlipid-based systems (useful lipids for lipid-mediated transfer of thegene are, for example, DOTMA, DOPE, and DC-Chol; see, e.g., Tonkinson etal., Cancer Investigation, 14(1): 54-65 (1996)). The most preferredvectors for use in gene therapy are viruses, most preferablyadenoviruses, AAV, lentiviruses, or retroviruses. A viral vector such asa retroviral vector includes at least one transcriptionalpromoter/enhancer or locus-defining element(s), or other elements thatcontrol gene expression by other means such as alternate splicing,nuclear RNA export, or post-translational modification of messenger. Inaddition, a viral vector such as a retroviral vector includes a nucleicacid molecule that, when transcribed in the presence of a gene encodingthe PRO polypeptide, is operably linked thereto and acts as atranslation initiation sequence. Such vector constructs also include apackaging signal, long terminal repeats (LTRs) or portions thereof, andpositive and negative strand primer binding sites appropriate to thevirus used (if these are not already present in the viral vector). Inaddition, such vector typically includes a signal sequence for secretionof the PRO polypeptide from a host cell in which it is placed.Preferably the signal sequence for this purpose is a mammalian signalsequence, most preferably the native signal sequence for the PROpolypeptide. Optionally, the vector construct may also include a signalthat directs polyadenylation, as well as one or more restriction sitesand a translation termination sequence. By way of example, such vectorswill typically include a 5′LTR, a tRNA binding site, a packaging signal,an origin of second-strand DNA synthesis, and a 3′LTR or a portionthereof. Other vectors can be used that are non-viral, such as cationiclipids, polylysine, and dendrimers.

In some situations, it is desirable to provide the nucleic acid sourcewith an agent that targets the target cells, such as an antibodyspecific for a cell-surface membrane protein or the target cell, aligand for a receptor on the target cell, etc. Where liposomes areemployed, proteins that bind to a cell-surface membrane proteinassociated with endocytosis may be used for targeting and/or tofacilitate uptake, e.g., capsid proteins or fragments thereof tropic fora particular cell type, antibodies for proteins that undergointernalization in cycling, and proteins that target intracellularlocalization and enhance intracellular half-life. The technique ofreceptor-mediated endocytosis is described, for example, by Wu et al.,J. Biol. Chem., 262:4429-4432(1987); and Wagner et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 3410-3414 (1990). For a review of the currentlyknown gene marking and gene therapy protocols, see, Anderson et al.,Science, 256: 808-813 (1992). See also WO 93/25673 and the referencescited therein.

Suitable gene therapy and methods for making retroviral particles andstructural proteins can be found in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,746.

5.2.11.5. Use of Gene as a Diagnostic

This invention is also related to the use of the gene encoding the PROpolypeptide as a diagnostic. Detection of a mutated form of the PROpolypeptide will allow a diagnosis, or a susceptibility to a disorder,such as an IBD, since mutations in the PRO polypeptide may cause IBD.

Individuals carrying mutations in the genes encoding a human PROpolypeptide may be detected at the DNA level by a variety of techniques.Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from a patient's cells, suchas from blood, urine, saliva, tissue biopsy, and autopsy material. Thegenomic DNA may be used directly for detection or may be amplifiedenzymatically by using PCR (Saild et al., Nature, 324: 163-166 (1986))prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used for the same purpose. Asan example, PCR primers complementary to the nucleic acid encoding thePRO polypeptide can be used to identify and analyze the PRO polypeptidemutations. For example, deletions and insertions can be detected by achange in size of the amplified product in comparison to the normalgenotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNAto radiolabeled RNA encoding the PRO polypeptide, or alternatively,radiolabeled antisense DNA sequences encoding the PRO polypeptide.Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatchedduplexes by RNase A digestion or by differences in melting temperatures.

Genetic testing based on DNA sequence differences may be achieved bydetection of alteration in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments ingels with or without denaturing agents. Small sequence deletions andinsertions can be visualized by high resolution gel electrophoresis. DNAfragments of different sequences may be distinguished on denaturingformamidine gradient gels in which the mobilities of different DNAfragments are retarded in the gel at different positions according totheir specific melting or partial melting temperatures. See, e.g., Myerset al., Science, 230: 1242 (1985).

Sequence changes at specific locations may also be revealed by nucleaseprotection assays, such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemicalcleavage method, for example, Cotton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.85: 4397-4401 (1985).

In addition to more conventional gel-electrophoresis and DNA sequencing,mutations can also be detected by in situ analysis.

Thus, the detection of a specific DNA sequence may be achieved bymethods such as hybridization, RNase protection, chemical cleavage,direct DNA sequencing, or the use of restriction enzymes, e.g.,restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and Southern blottingof genomic DNA.

5.2.11.6. Use to Detect PRO Polypeptide Levels

A competition assay may be employed wherein antibodies specific to thePRO polypeptide are attached to a solid support and the labeled PROpolypeptide and a sample derived from the host are passed over the solidsupport and the amount of label detected attached to the solid supportcan be correlated to a quantity of the PRO polypeptide in the sample.

5.2.11.7. Chromosome Mapping

The sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosomeidentification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and canhybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome.Moreover, there is a current need for identifying particular sites onthe chromosome. Few chromosome marking reagents based on actual sequencedata (repeat polymorphisms) are presently available for markingchromosomal location. The mapping of DNAs to chromosomes according tothe present invention is an important first step in correlating thosesequences with genes associated with disease.

Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers(preferably 15-25 bp) from the cDNA. Computer analysis for the3′-untranslated region is used to rapidly select primers that do notspan more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating theamplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening ofsomatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only thosehybrids containing the human gene corresponding to the primer will yieldan amplified fragment.

PCR mapping of somatic cell hybrids is a rapid procedure for assigning aparticular DNA to a particular chromosome. Using the present inventionwith the same oligonucleotide primers, sublocalization can be achievedwith panels of fragments from specific chromosomes or pools of largegenomic clones in an analogous manner. Other mapping strategies that cansimilarly be used to map to its chromosome include in situhybridization, prescreening with labeled flow-sorted chromosomes, andpreselection by hybridization to construct chromosome-specific cDNAlibraries.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a cDNA clone to a metaphasechromosomal spread can be used to provide a precise chromosomal locationin one step. This technique can be used with cDNA as short as 500 or 600bases; however, clones larger than 2,000 bp have a higher likelihood ofbinding to a unique chromosomal location with sufficient signalintensity for simple detection. FISH requires use of the clones fromwhich the gene encoding the PRO polypeptide was derived, and the longerthe better. For example, 2,000 bp is good, 4,000 bp is better, and morethan 4,000 is probably not necessary to get good results a reasonablepercentage of the time. For a review of this technique, see, Verma etal., Human Chromosomes: a Manual of Basic Techniques (PergamonPress, NewYork, 1988).

Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, thephysical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlatedwith genetic map data. Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick,Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available online through Johns HopkinsUniversity Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes anddiseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region is thenidentified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physicallyadjacent genes).

Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA orgenomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If amutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but notin any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be thecausative agent of the disease.

With current resolution of physical mapping and genetic mappingtechniques, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal regionassociated with the disease could be one of between 50 and 500 potentialcausative genes. (This assumes 1 megabase mapping resolution and onegene per 20 kb).

5.2.11.8. Screening Assays for Drug Candidates

This invention encompasses methods of screening compounds to identifythose that mimic the PRO polypeptide (agonists) or prevent the effect ofthe PRO polypeptide (antagonists). Screening assays for antagonist drugcandidates are designed to identify compounds that bind or complex withthe PRO polypeptide encoded by the genes identified herein, or otherwiseinterfere with the interaction of the encoded polypeptides with othercellular proteins. Such screening assays will include assays amenable tohigh-throughput screening of chemical libraries, making themparticularly suitable for identifying small molecule drug candidates.

The assays can be performed in a variety of formats, includingprotein-protein binding assays, biochemical screening assays,immunoassays, and cell-based assays, which are well characterized in theart.

All assays for antagonists are common in that they call for contactingthe drug candidate with a PRO polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acididentified herein under conditions and for a time sufficient to allowthese two components to interact.

In binding assays, the interaction is binding and the complex formed canbe isolated or detected in the reaction mixture. In a particularembodiment, the PRO polypeptide encoded by the gene identified herein orthe drug candidate is immobilized on a solid phase, e.g., on amicrotiter plate, by covalent or non-covalent attachments. Non-covalentattachment generally is accomplished by coating the solid surface with asolution of the PRO polypeptide and drying. Alternatively, animmobilized antibody, e.g., a monoclonal antibody, specific for the PROpolypeptide to be immobilized can be used to anchor it to a solidsurface. The assay is performed by adding the non-immobilized component,which may be labeled by a detectable label, to the immobilizedcomponent, e.g., the coated surface containing the anchored component.When the reaction is complete, the non-reacted components are removed,e.g., by washing, and complexes anchored on the solid surface aredetected. When the originally non-immobilized component carries adetectable label, the detection of label immobilized on the surfaceindicates that complexing occurred. Where the originally non-immobilizedcomponent does not carry a label, complexing can be detected, forexample, by using a labeled antibody specifically binding theimmobilized complex.

If the candidate compound interacts with but does not bind to aparticular PRO polypeptide encoded by a gene identified herein, itsinteraction with that polypeptide can be assayed by methods well knownfor detecting protein-protein interactions. Such assays includetraditional approaches, such as, e.g., cross-linking,co-immunoprecipitation, and co-purification through gradients orchromatographic columns. In addition, protein-protein interactions canbe monitored by using a yeast-based genetic system described by Fieldsand co-workers (Fields and Song, Nature (London). 340: 245-246 (1989);Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9578-9582 (1991)) asdisclosed by Chevray and Nathans, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:5789-5793 (1991). Many transcriptional activators, such as yeast GALA,consist of two physically discrete modular domains, one acting as theDNA-binding domain, the other one functioning as thetranscription-activation domain. The yeast expression system describedin the foregoing publications (generally referred to as the “two-hybridsystem”) takes advantage of this property, and employs two hybridproteins, one in which the target protein is fused to the DNA-bindingdomain of GAL4, and another, in which candidate activating proteins arefused to the activation domain. The expression of a GAL1-lacZ reportergene under control of a GAL4-activated promoter depends onreconstitution of GAL4 activity via protein-protein interaction.Colonies containing interacting polypeptides are detected with achromogenic substrate for β-galactosidase. A complete kit (MATCHMAKER™)for identifying protein-protein interactions between two specificproteins using the two-hybrid technique is commercially available fromClontech. This system can also be extended to map protein domainsinvolved in specific protein interactions as well as to pinpoint aminoacid residues that are crucial for these interactions.

Compounds that interfere with the interaction of a gene encoding a PROpolypeptide identified herein and other intra- or extracellularcomponents can be tested as follows: usually a reaction mixture isprepared containing the product of the gene and the intra- orextracellular component under conditions and for a time allowing for theinteraction and binding of the two products. To test the ability of acandidate compound to inhibit binding, the reaction is run in theabsence and in the presence of the test compound. In addition, a placebomay be added to a third reaction mixture, to serve as positive control.The binding (complex formation) between the test compound and the intra-or extracellular component present in the mixture is monitored asdescribed hereinabove. The formation of a complex in the controlreaction(s) but not in the reaction mixture containing the test compoundindicates that the test compound interferes with the interaction of thetest compound and its reaction partner.

If the PRO polypeptide has the ability to stimulate the proliferation ofendothelial cells in the presence of the co-mitogen ConA, then oneexample of a screening method takes advantage of this ability.Specifically, in the proliferation assay, human umbilical veinendothelial cells are obtained and cultured in 96-well flat-bottomedculture plates (Costar, Cambridge, Mass.) and supplemented with areaction mixture appropriate for facilitating proliferation of thecells, the mixture containing Con-A (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.).Con-A and the compound to be screened are added and after incubation at37° C., cultures are pulsed with ³⁻H-thyrnidine and harvested onto glassfiber filters (phD; Cambridge Technology, Watertown, Mass.). Mean³⁻H-thymidine incorporation (cpm) of triplicate cultures is determinedusing a liquid scintillation counter (Beckman Instruments, Irvine,Calif.). Significant ³⁻(H)-thymidine incorporation indicates stimulationof endothelial cell proliferation.

To assay for antagonists, the assay described above is performed;however, in this assay the PRO polypeptide is added along with thecompound to be screened and the ability of the compound to inhibit³⁻(H)thymidine incorporation in the presence of the PRO polypeptideindicates that the compound is an antagonist to the PRO polypeptide.Alternatively, antagonists may be detected by combining the PROpolypeptide and a potential antagonist with membrane-bound PROpolypeptide receptors or recombinant receptors under appropriateconditions for a competitive inhibition assay. The PRO polypeptide canbe labeled, such as by radioactivity, such that the number of PROpolypeptide molecules bound to the receptor can be used to determine theeffectiveness of the potential antagonist The gene encoding the receptorcan be identified by numerous methods known to those of skill in theart, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting. Coligan et al.,Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2): Chapter 5 (1991). Preferably,expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNA is preparedfrom a cell responsive to the PRO polypeptide and a cDNA library createdfrom this RNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells orother cells that are not responsive to the PRO polypeptide. Transfectedcells that are grown on glass slides are exposed to the labeled PROpolypeptide. The PRO polypeptide can be labeled by a variety of meansincluding iodination or inclusion of a recognition site for asite-specific protein kinase. Following fixation and incubation, theslides are subjected to autoradiographic analysis. Positive pools areidentified and sub-pools are prepared and re-transfected using aninteractive sub-pooling and re-screening process, eventually yielding asingle clone that encodes the putative receptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, the labeled PROpolypeptide can be photoaffinity-linked with cell membrane or extractpreparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked materialis resolved by PAGE and exposed to X-ray film. The labeled complexcontaining the receptor can be excised, resolved into peptide fragments,and subjected to protein micro-sequencing. The amino acid sequenceobtained from micro-sequencing would be used to design a set ofdegenerate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identifythe gene encoding the putative receptor.

In another assay for antagonists, mammalian cells or amembranepreparation expressing the receptor would be incubated with the labeledPRO polypeptide in the presence of the candidate compound. The abilityof the compound to enhance or block this interaction could then bemeasured.

The compositions useful in the treatment of IBD include, withoutlimitation, antibodies, small organic and inorganic molecules, peptides,phosphopeptides, antisense and ribozyme molecules, triple-helixmolecules, etc., that inhibit the expression and/or activity of thetarget gene product.

More specific examples of potential antagonists include anoligonucleotide that binds to the fusions of immunoglobulin with a PROpolypeptide, and, in particular, antibodies including, withoutlimitation, poly- and monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments,single-chain antibodies, anti-idiotypic antibodies, and chimeric orhumanized versions of such antibodies or fragments, as well as humanantibodies and antibody fragments. Alternatively, a potential antagonistmay be a closely related protein, for example, a mutated forrn of thePRO polypeptide that recognizes the receptor but imparts no effect,thereby competitively inhibiting the action of the PRO polypeptide.

Another potential PRO polypeptide antagonist is an antisense RNA or DNAconstruct prepared using antisense technology, where, e.g., an antisenseRNA or DNA molecule acts to block directly the translation of mRNA byhybridizing to targeted mRNA and preventing protein translation.Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression throughtriple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which methodsare based on binding of a polynucleotide to DNA or RNA. For example, the5′coding portion of the polynucleotide sequence, which encodes themature PRO polypeptides herein, is used to design an antisense RNAoligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNAoligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the geneinvolved in transcription (triple helix—see, Lee et al., Nucl. AcidsRes., 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science, 24 1: 456 (1988); Dervan etal., Science, 251:1360 (1991)), thereby preventing transcription and theproduction of the PRO polypeptide. A sequence “complementary” to aportion of an RNA, as referred to herein, means a sequence havingsufficient complementarity to be able to hybridize with the RNA, forminga stable duplex; in the case of double-stranded antisense nucleic acids,a single strand of the duplex DNA may thus be tested, or triplex helixformation may be assayed. The ability to hybridize will depend on boththe degree of complementarity and the length of the antisense nucleicacid. Generally, the longer the hybridizing nucleic acid, the more basemismatches with an RNA it may contain and still form a stable duplex (ortriplex, as the case may be). One skilled in the art can ascertain atolerable degree of mismatch by use of standard procedures to determinethe melting point of the hybridized complex. The antisense RNAoligonucleotide hybridizes to the MRNA in vivo and blocks translation ofthe mRNA molecule into the PRO polypeptide (antisense—Okano, Neurochem.,56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of GeneExpression (CRC Press: Boca Raton, Fla., 1988).

The antisense oligonucleotides can be DNA or RNA or chimeric mixtures orderivatives or modified versions thereof, single-stranded ordouble-stranded. The oligonucleotide can be modified at the base moiety,sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone, for example, to improve stabilityof the molecule, hybridization, etc. The oligonucleotide may includeother appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cellreceptors in vivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cellmembrane (see, e.g., Letsinger, et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. SciU.S.A. 86:6553-6556; Lemaitre, et al., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A. 84:648-652; PCT Publication No. WO88/09810, published Dec. 15,1988) or the blood-brain barrier (see, e.g., PCT Publication No.WO89/10134, published Apr. 25, 1988), hybridization-triggered cleavageagents (see, e.g., Krol et al., 1988, Bio Techiniques 6:958-976) orintercalating agents (see, e.g., Zon, 1988, Pharm. Res. 5:539-549). Tothis end, the oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule,e.g., a peptide, hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, transportagent, hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, etc.

The antisense oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modified basemoiety which is selected from the group including but not limited to5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil,hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl)uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine,5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil,beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine,1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine,2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine,7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil,5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil beta-D-mannosylqueosine,5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil,2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine,5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4thiouracil, 5-methyluracil,uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w,and 2,6-diaminopurine.

The antisense oligonucleotidemay also comprise at least one modifiedsugar moiety selected from the group including but not limited toarabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises atleast one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group consistingof a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, aphosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkylphosphotriester, and a formacetal or analog thereof.

In yet anotherembodiment, the antisense oligonucleotideis an α-anomericoligonucleotide. An α-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specificdouble-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to theusual β-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier, et al.,1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The oligonucleotide is a2′-O-methylribonucleotide (Inoue, et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res.15:6131-6148), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue, et al., 1987, FEBSLett. 215:327-330).

Oligonucleotides of the invention may be synthesized by standard-methodsknown in the art, e.g., by use of an automated DNA synthesizer (such asare commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, etc.). Asexamples, phosphorothioateoligonucleotides may be synthesizedby themethod of Stein, etal (1988, Nucl Acids Res. 16:3209), methylphosphonateoligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlled pore glass polymersupports (Sarin, et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.85:7448-7451), etc.

The oligonucleotides described above can also be delivered to cells suchthat the antisense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibitproduction of the PRO polypeptide. When antisense DNA is used,oligodeoxyribonucleotides derived from the translation-initiation site,e.g., between about −10 and +10 positions of the target gene nucleotidesequence, are preferred.

Antisense or sense RNA or DNA molecules are generally at least about5nucleotides in length, alternatively at least about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110,115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180,185, 190, 195, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300,310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, 400, 410, 420, 430, 440,450, 460, 470, 480, 490, 500, 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560, 570, 580,590, 600, 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680, 690, 700, 710, 720,730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860,870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990, or 1000nucleotides in length, wherein in this context the term “about” meansthe referenced nucleotide sequence length plus or minus 10% of thatreferenced length.

Potential antagonists further include small molecules that bind to theactive site, the receptor binding site, or growth factor or otherrelevant binding site of the PRO polypeptide, thereby blocking thenormal biological activity of the PRO polypeptide. Examples of smallmolecules include, but are not limited to, small peptides orpeptide-like molecules, preferably soluble peptides, and syntheticnon-peptidyl organic or inorganic compounds.

Additional potential antagonists are ribozymes, which are enzymaticRNAmolecules capable of catalyzing the specific cleavage of RNA.Ribozymes act by sequence-specific hybridization to the complementarytarget RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Specific ribozymecleavage sites within a potential RNA target can be identified by knowntechniques. For further details see, e.g., Rossi, Current Biologvy 4:469-471 (1994), and PCT publication No. WO 97/33551 (published Sep. 18,1997).

While ribozymes that cleave mRNA at site specific recognition sequencescan be used to destroy target gene mRNAs, the use of hammerheadribozymes is preferred. Hammerhead ribozymes cleave niRNAs at locationsdictated by flanking regions which form complementary base pairs withthe target MRNA. The sole requirement is that the target mRNA have thefollowing sequence of two bases: 5′-UG-3′. The construction andproduction of hammerhead ribozymes is well known in the art and isdescribed more fully in Myers, 1995, Molecular Biology andBiotechnology: A Comprehensive Desk Reference, VCH Publishers, New York,(see especially FIG. 4, page 833) and in Haseloff and Gerlach, 1988,Nature, 334:585-591, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Preferably the ribozyme is engineered so that the cleavage recognitionsite is located near the 5′ end of the target gene mRNA, i. e., toincrease efficiency and minimize the intracellular accumulation ofnon-functional mRNA transcripts.

The ribozymes of the present invention also include RNAendoribonucleases (hereinafter “Cech-type ribozymes”) such as the onewhich occurs naturally in Tetrahymena thermophila (known as the IVS, orL-19 IVS RNA) and which has been extensively described by Thomas Cechand collaborators (Zaug, et al., 1984, Science, 224:574-578; Zaug andCech, 1986, Science, 231:470-475; Zaug, et al, 1986, Nature,324:429-433; published International patent application No. WO 88/04300by University Patents Inc.; Been and Cech, 1986, Cell, 47:207-216). TheCech-type ribozymes have an eight base pair active site that hybridizesto a target RNA sequence whereafter cleavage of the target RNA takesplace. The invention encompasses those Cech-type ribozymes that targeteight base-pair active site sequences that are present in the targetgene.

As in the antisense approach, the ribozymes can be composed of modifiedoligonucleotides (e.g., for improved stability, targeting, etc.) andshould be delivered to cells that express the target gene in vitro. Apreferred method of delivery involves using a DNA construct “encoding”the ribozyme under the control of a strong constitutive pol III or polII promoter, so that transfected cells will produce sufficientquantities of the ribozyme to destroy endogenous target gene messagesand inhibit translation. Because ribozymes, unlike antisense molecules,are catalytic, a lower intracellular concentration is required forefficiency.

Nucleic acid molecules in triple-helix formation used to inhibittranscription should be single-stranded and composed ofdeoxynucleotides. The base composition of these oligonucleotides isdesigned such that it promotes triple-helix formation via Hoogsteenbase-pairing rules, which generally require sizeable stretches ofpurines or pyrimidines on one strand of a duplex. For further detailssee, e.g., PCT publication No. WO 97/33551, supra.

These small molecules can be identified by any one or more of thescreening assays discussed hereinabove and/or by any other screeningtechniques well known for those skilled in the art.

5.2.11.9. Administration Protocols, Schedules, Doses, and Formulations

The molecules herein and agonists and antagonists thereto arepharmaceutically useful as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent forvarious disorders and diseases as set forth above.

Therapeutic compositions of the PRO polypeptides or agonists orantagonists are prepared for storage by mixing the desired moleculehaving the appropriate degree of purity with optional pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers, excipients, or stabilizers (Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, Osol, A. ed. (1980)), in the formof lyophilized formulations or aqueous solutions. Acceptable carriers,excipients, or stabilizers are nontoxic to recipients at the dosages andconcentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate,and other organic acids; antioxidants including ascorbic acid andmethionine; preservatives (such as octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammoniumchloride; hexamethonium chloride; benzalkonium chloride, benzethoniumchloride; phenol, butyl or benzyl alcohol; alkyl parabens such as methylor propyl paraben; catechol; resorcinol; cyclohexanol; 3-pentanol; andm-cresol); low molecular weight (less than about 10 residues)polypeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, orimmunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone;amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine,or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydratesincluding glucose, mannose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA;sugars such as sucrose, mannitol, trehalose or sorbitol; salt-formingcounter-ions such as sodium; metal complexes (e.g., Zn-proteincomplexes); and/or non-ionic surfactants such as TWEEN™, PLURONICS™ orpolyethylene glycol (PEG).

Additional examples of such carriers include ion exchangers, alumina,aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serumalbumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid,potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetablefatty acids, water, salts, or electrolytes such as protamine sulfate,disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodiumchloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, and polyethylene glycol.Carriers for topical or gel-based forms of agonist or antagonist includepolysaccharides such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose ormethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylates,polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polymers, polyethylene glycol,and wood wax alcohols. For all administrations, conventional depot formsare suitably used. Such forms include, for example, microcapsules,nano-capsules, liposomes, plasters, inhalation forms, nose sprays,sublingual tablets, and sustained-release preparations. The PROpolypeptides or agonists or antagonists will typically be formulated insuch vehicles at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml.

PRO polypeptides or agonists or antagonists to be used for int vivoadministration must be sterile. This is readily accomplished byfiltration through sterile filtration membranes, prior to or followinglyophilization and reconstitution. PRO polypeptides ordinarily will bestored in lyophilized form or in solution if administered systemically.If in lyophilized form, the PRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonistthereto is typically formulated in combination with other ingredientsfor reconstitution with an appropriate diluent at the time for use. Anexample of a liquid formulation of a PRO polypeptide or agonist orantagonist is a sterile, clear, colorless unpreserved solution filled ina single-ose vial for subcutaneous injection. Preserved pharmaceuticalcompositions suitable for repeated use may contain, for example,depending mainly on the indication and type of polypeptide:

-   -   a) PRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereto;    -   b) a buffer capable of maintaining the pH in a range of maximum        stability of the polypeptide or other molecule in solution,        preferably about 4-8;    -   c) a detergent/surfactant primarily to stabilize the polypeptide        or molecule against agitation-induced aggregation;    -   d) an isotonifier;    -   e) a preservative selected from the group of phenol, benzyl        alcohol and a benzethonium halide, e.g., chloride; and    -   f) water.

If the detergent employed is non-ionic, it may, for example, bepolysorbates (e.g., POLYSORBATE™ (TWEEN™) 20, 80, etc.) orpoloxamers(e.g., POLOXAMER™ 188). The use of non-ionic surfactants permits theformulation to be exposed to shear surface stresses without causingdenaturation of the polypeptide. Further, such surfactant-containingformulations may be employed in aerosol devices such as those used in apulmonary dosing, and needleless jet injector guns (see, e.g., EP257,956).

An isotonifier may be present to ensure isotonicity of a liquidcomposition of the PRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereto, andincludes polyhydric sugar alcohols, preferably trihydric or higher sugaralcohols, such as glycerin, erythritol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol, andmannitol. These sugar alcohols can be used alone or in combination.Alternatively, sodium chloride or other appropriate inorganic salts maybe used to render the solutions isotonic.

The buffer may, for example, be an acetate, citrate, succinate, orphosphate buffer depending on the pH desired. The pH of one type ofliquid formulation of this invention is buffered in the range of about 4to 8, preferably about physiological pH.

The preservatives phenol, benzyl alcohol and benzethoniumhalides, e.g.,chloride, are known antimicrobial agents that may be employed.

Therapeutic PRO polypeptide compositions generally are placed into acontainer having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenoussolution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermicinjection needle. The formulations are preferably administered asrepeated intravenous (i.v.), subcutaneous (s.c.), or intramuscular(i.m.) injections, or as aerosol formulations suitable for intranasal orintrapulmonary delivery (for intrapulmonary delivery see, e.g., EP257,956).

PRO polypeptides can also be administered in the form ofsustained-released preparations. Suitable examples of sustained-releasepreparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobicpolymers containing the protein, which matrices are in the form ofshaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (e.g.,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate) as described by Langer et al., J.Biomed. Mater. Res., 15: 167-277 (1981) and Langer, Chem. Tech., 12:98-105 (1982) or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides (U.S. Pat.No.3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gammaethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers, 22:547-556(1983)),non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate (Langer et al., supra), degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as theLupronDepot™ (injectablemicrospheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer andleuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988).

While polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolicacid enable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogelsrelease proteins for shorter time periods. When encapsulated proteinsremain in the body for a long time, they may denature or aggregate as aresult of exposure to moisture at 37° C., resulting in a loss ofbiological activity and possible changes in immunogenicity. Rationalstrategies can be devised for protein stabilization depending on themechanism involved. For example, if the aggregation mechanism isdiscovered to be intermolecular S-S bond formation throughthio-disulfide interchange, stabilization may be achieved by modifyingsulfhydryl residues, lyophilizing from acidic solutions, controllingmoisture content, using appropriate additives, and developing specificpolymer matrix compositions.

Sustained-release PRO polypeptide compositions also include liposomallyentrapped PRO polypeptides. Liposomes containing the PRO polypeptide areprepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 77: 4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046;EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese patent application 83-118008; U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily the liposomesare of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which thelipid content is greater than about 30 mol. % cholesterol, the selectedproportion being adjusted for the optimal therapy.

The therapeutically effective dose of a PRO polypeptide or agonist orantagonist thereto will, of course, vary depending on such factors asthe pathological condition to be treated (including prevention), themethod of administration, the type of compound being used for treatment,any co-therapy involved, the patient's age, weight, general medicalcondition, medical history, etc., and its determination is well withinthe skill of a practicing physician. Accordingly, it will be necessaryfor the therapist to titer the dosage and modify the route ofadministration as required to obtain the maximal therapeutic effect. Ifthe PRO polypeptide has a narrow host range, for the treatment of humanpatients formulations comprising human PRO polypeptide, more preferablynative-sequence human PRO polypeptide, are preferred. The clinician willadminister the PRO polypeptide until a dosage is reached that achievesthe desired effect for treatment of the condition in question.

With the above guidelines, the effective dose generally is within therange of from about 0.001 to about 1.0 mg/kg, more preferably about0.01-1.0 mg/kg, most preferably about 0.01-0.1 mg/kg.

The dosage regimen of a pharmaceutical composition containing the PROpolypeptide to be used in tissue regeneration will be determined by theattending physician considering various factors that modify the actionof the polypeptides, e.g., amount of tissue weight desired to be formed,the site of damage, the condition of the damaged tissue, the size of awound, type of damaged tissue (e.g., bone), the patient's age, sex, anddiet, the severity of any infection, time of administration, and otherclinical factors. The dosage may vary with the type of matrix used inthe reconstitution and with inclusion of other proteins in thepharmaceutical composition. For example, the addition of other knowngrowth factors, such as IGF-I, to the final composition may also affectthe dosage. Progress can be monitored by periodic assessment oftissue/bone growth and/or repair, for example, X-rays, histomorphometricdeterminations, and tetracycline labeling.

The route of PRO polypeptide or antagonist or agonist administration isin accord with known methods, e.g., by injection or infusion byintravenous, intramuscular, intracerebral, intraperitoneal,intracerobrospinal, subcutaneous, intraocular, intraarticular,intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes, or bysustained-release systems as noted below. The PRO polypeptide or agonistor antagonists thereof also are suitably administered by intratumoral,peritumoral, intralesional, or perilesional routes, to exert local aswell as systemic therapeutic effects. The intraperitoneal route isexpected to be particularly useful, for example, in the treatment ofovarian tumors.

If a peptide or small molecule is employed as an antagonist or agonist,it is preferably administered orally or non-orally in the form of aliquid or solid to mammals.

Examples of pharmacologically acceptable salts of molecules that formsalts and are useful hereunder include alkali metal salts (e.g., sodiumsalt, potassium salt), almine earth metal salts (e.g., calcium salt,magnesium salt), ammonium salts, organic base salts (e.g., pyridinesalt, triethylamine salt), inorganic acid salts (e.g., hydrochloride,sulfate, nitrate), and salts of organic acid (e.g., acetate, oxalate,p-toluenesulfonate).

For compositions herein that are useful for bone, cartilage, tendon, orligament regeneration, the therapeutic method includes administering thecomposition topically, systemically, or locally as an implant or device.When administered, the therapeutic composition for use is in apyrogen-free, physiologically acceptable foml Further, the compositionmay desirably be encapsulated or injected in a viscous form for deliveryto the site of bone, cartilage, or tissue damage. Topical administrationmay be suitable for wound healing and tissue repair. Preferably, forbone and/or cartilage formation, the composition would include a matrixcapable of delivering the protein-containing composition to the site ofbone and/or cartilage damage, providing a structure for the developingbone and cartilage and preferably capable of being resorbed into thebody. Such matrices may be formed of materials presently in use forother implanted medical applications.

The choice of matrix material is based on biocompatibility,biodegradability, mechanical properties, cosmetic appearance, andinterface properties. The particular application of the compositionswill define the appropriate formulation. Potential matrices for thecompositions may be biodegradable and chemically defined calciumsulfate, tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid,polyglycolic acid, and polyanhydrides. Other potential materials arebiodegradable and biologically well-defined, such as bone or dermalcollagen. Further matrices are comprised of pure proteins orextracellular matrix components. Other potential matrices arenonbiodegradable and chemically defined, such as sinteredhydroxyapatite, bioglass, aluminates, or other ceramics. Matrices may becomprised of combinations of any of the above-mentioned types ofmaterial, such as polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite or collagen andtricalcium phosphate. The bioceramics may be altered in composition,such as in calcium-aluminate-phosphate and processing to alter poresize, particle size, particle shape, and biodegradability.

One specific embodiment is a 50:50 (mole weight) copolymer of lacticacid and glycolic acid in the form of porous particles having diametersranging from 150 to 800 microns. In some applications, it win be usefulto utilize a sequestering agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose orautologous blood clot, to prevent the polypeptide compositions fromdisassociating from the matrix.

One suitable family of sequestering agents is cellulosic materials suchas alkylcelluloses (including hydroxyalkylceluloses), includingmethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydoxyethylcellulose,hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcelulose, andcarboxymethylcellulose, one preferred being cationic salts ofcarboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Other preferred sequestering agentsinclude hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate, poly(ethylene glycol),polyoxyethylene oxide, carboxyvinyl polymer, and poly(vinyl alcohol).The amount of sequestering agent useful herein is 0.5-20 wt %,preferably 1-10 wt %, based on total formulation weight, whichrepresents the amount necessary to prevent desorption of the polypeptide(or its antagonist) from the polymer matrix and to provide appropriatehandling of the composition, yet not so much that the progenitor cellsare prevented from infiltrating the matrix, thereby providing thepolypeptide (or its antagonist) the opportunity to assist the osteogenicactivity of the progenitor cells.

5.2.11.10. Combination Therapies

The effectiveness of the PRO polypeptide or an agonist or antagonistthereof in preventing or treating the disorder in question may beimproved by administering the active agent serially or in combinationwith another agent that is effective for those purposes, either in thesame composition or as separate compositions.

For some indications, PRO polypeptides or their agonists or antagonistsmay be combined with other agents beneficial to the treatment of thebone and/or cartilage defect, wound, or tissue in question. These agentsinclude various growth factors such as EGF, PDGF, TGF-α or TGF-β, IGF,FGF, and CTGF.

In addition, PRO polypeptides or their agonists or antagonists used totreat cancer may be combined with cytotoxic, chemotherapeutic, orgrowth-inhibitory agents as identified above. Also, for cancertreatment, the PRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereof issuitably administered serially or in combination with radiologicaltreatments, whether involving irradiation or administration ofradioactive substances.

The effective amounts of the therapeutic agents administered incombination with the PRO polypeptide or agonist or antagonist thereofwill be at the physician's or veterinarian's discretion. Dosageadministration and adjustment is done to achieve maximal management ofthe conditions to be treated. The dose will additionally depend on suchfactors as the type of the therapeutic agent to be used and the specificpatient being treated. Typically, the amount employed will be the samedose as that used, if the given therapeutic agent is administeredwithout the PRO polypeptide.

The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, andare not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

All patent and literature references cited in the present specificationare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

6. EXAMPLES

Commercially available reagents referred to in the Examples were usedaccording to manufacturer's instructions unless otherwise indicated. Thesource of those cells identified in the following Examples, andthroughout the specification, by ATCC accession numbers is the AmericanType Culture Collection, Manassas, Va. Unless otherwise noted, thepresent invention uses standard procedures of recombinant DNAtechnology, such as those described hereinabove and in the followingtextbooks: Sambrook et al., supra; Ausubel et al., Current Protocols inMolecular Biology (Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience,N.Y., 1989); Innis et al., PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods andApplications (Academic Press, Inc.: N.Y., 1990); Harlow et al.,Antibodies: A Laboratorv Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Press: Cold SpringHarbor, 1988); Gait, Olijonucleotide Synthesis (IRL Press: Oxford,1984); Freshney, Animal Cell Culture 1987; Coligan et al., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, 1991.

6.1. Example 1 Deposit and/or Public Availability of Material

The following materials were deposited under the terms of the BudapestTreaty with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA (ATCC) as shown in Table 7 below.TABLE 7 Material ATCC Dep. No. Deposit Date DNA32279-1131 209259 Sep.16, 1997 DNA33085-1110 209087 May 30, 1997 DNA33461-1199 209367 Oct. 15,1997 DNA33785-1143 209417 Oct. 28, 1997 DNA52594-1270 209679 Mar. 17,1998 DNA59776-1600 203128 Aug. 18, 1998 DNA62377-1381-1 203552 Dec. 22,1998 DNA168061-2897 1600-PTA Mar. 30, 2000 DNA171372-2908 1783-PTA Apr.25, 2000

These deposits were made under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty onthe International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for thePurpose of Patent Procedure and the Regulations thereunder (BudapestTreaty). This assures maintenance of a viable culture of the deposit for30 years from the date of deposit. The deposits will be made availableby ATCC under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and subject to anagreement between Genentech, Inc. and ATCC, which assures permanent andunrestricted availability of the progeny of the culture of the depositto the public upon issuance of the pertinent U.S. patent or upon layingopen to the public of any U.S. or foreign patent application, whichevercomes first, and assures availability of the progeny to one determinedby the U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitledthereto according to 35 USC § 122 and the Commiissioner's rules pursuantthereto (including 37 CFR § 1.14 with particular reference to 886 OG638).

The assignee of the present application has agreed that if a culture ofthe materials on deposit should die or be lost or destroyed whencultivated under suitable conditions, the materials will be promptlyreplaced on notification with another of the same. Availability of thedeposited material is not to be construed as a license to practice theinvention in contravention of the rights granted under the authority ofany government in accordance with its patent laws.

The following materials are publicly available and accessible asfollows: TABLE 8 Material Accession Number DNA32279 NM_006329 DNA33085NM_003841 DNA33457 NM_003665 DNA33461 NM_020997 DNA33785 NM_006072DNA36725 NM_002190 DNA40576 NM_003266 DNA51786 NM_000230 DNA52594NM_014452 DNA59776 P_Z65071 DNA62377 NM_013278 DNA64882 NM_002407DNA69553 NM_002195 DNA77509 NM_003212 DNA77512 NM_006507 DNA81752NM_001561 DNA82305 NM_002580 DNA82352 NM_002991 DNA87994 NM_003225DNA88417 NM_000885 DNA88432 NM_000888 DNA92247 NM_004633 DNA95930NM_014432 DNA99331 NM_001511 DNA101222 NM_003263 DNA102850 NM_000577DNA105792 NM_002391 DNA107429 NM_000758 DNA145582 DNA145582 DNA165608NM_021258 DNA166819 P_T87432 DNA168061 P_Z60585 DNA171372 DNA171372DNA188175 NM_003842 DNA188182 NM_014143 DNA188200 HUMTDGF3A DNA188203NM_001330 DNA188205 NM_005214 DNA188244 NM_006119 DNA188270 NM_000641DNA188277 M15329 DNA188278 NM_000576 DNA188287 NM_000880 DNA188302NM_000245 DNA188332 P_V19157 DNA188339 NM_004158 DNA188340 AB037599DNA188355 NM_004591 DNA188425 NM_002994 DNA188448 NM_005118 DNA194566NM_001837 DNA199788 NM_002990 DNA200227 NM_003814 DNA27865 P_AAA54109DNA33094 WIF1 DNA45416 HS159A1 DNA48328 WNT4 DNA50960 BD102846 DNA80896D26579 DNA82319 CCL25 DNA82352 CCL24 DNA82363 CXCL9 DNA82368 BC028217DNA83103 AL353732 DNA83500 P_AAF4264 DNA88002 HSU16261 DNA92282P_ABL88225 DNA96934 HSIFD4 DNA96943 HSIFNG2 DNA97005 BC028372 DNA98553HSAMAC1 DNA102845 HSMCP3A DNA108715 SCYA4 DNA108735 CCL1 DNA164455 IL1F6DNA188178 AF074332 DNA188271 IL13 DNA188338 CXCL11 DNA188342 AF146761DNA188427 MERTK DNA195011 HSA251549

6.2. Example 2 Use of PRO as a Hybridization Probe

The following method describes use of a nucleotide sequence encoding PROas a hybridization probe.

DNA comprising the coding sequence of full-length or mature PRO (asshown in accompanying figures) or a fragment thereof is employed as aprobe to screen for homologous DNAs (such as those encodingnaturally-occurring variants of PRO) in human tissue cDNA libraries orhumnan tissue genomic libraries.

Hybridization and washing of filters containing either library DNAs isperformed under the following high-stringency conditions. Hybridizationof radiolabeled probe derived from the gene encoding PRO polypeptide tothe filters is performed in a solution of 50% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.1%SDS, 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, 2×Denhardt's solution, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42° C. for 20 hours.Washing of the filters is performed in an aqueous solution of 0.1×SSCand 0.1% SDS at 42° C.

DNAs having a desired sequence identity with the DNA encodingfilll-length native sequence can then be identified using standardtechniques known in the art.

6.3. Example 3 Expression of PRO in E. coli

This example illustrates preparation of an unglycosylated form of PRO byrecombinant expression in E. coli.

The DNA sequence encoding PRO is initially amplified using selected PCRprimers. The primers should contain restriction enzyme sites whichcorrespond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selected expressionvector. A variety of expression vectors may be employed. An example of asuitable vector is pBR322 (derived from E. coli; see, Bolivar et al.,Gene 2:95 (1977)) which contains genes for ampicillin and tetracyclineresistance. The vector is digested with restriction enzyme anddephosphorylated. The PCR amplified sequences are then ligated into thevector. The vector will preferably include sequences which encode for anantibiotic resistance gene, a trp promoter, a poly-His leader (includingthe first six STII codons, poly-His sequence, and enteroidnase cleavagesite), the PRO coding region, lambda transcriptional terrninator, and anargu gene.

The ligation mixture is then used to transform a selected E. coli strainusing the methods described in Sambrook et al., supra. Transformants areidentified by their ability to grow on LB plates and antibioticresistant colonies are then selected. Plasmid DNA can be isolated andconfirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing.

Selected clones can be grown overnight in liquid culture medium such asLB broth supplemented with antibiotics. The overnight culture maysubsequently be used to inoculate a larger scale culture. The cells arethen grown to a desired optical density, during which the expressionpromoter is turned on.

After culturing the cells for several more hours, the cells can beharvested by centrifugation. The cell pellet obtained by thecentrifugation can be solubilized using various agents known in the art,and the solubilized PRO protein can then be purified using a metalchelating column under conditions that allow tight binding of theprotein.

PRO may be expressed in E. coli in a poly-His tagged form, using thefollowing procedure. The DNA encoding PRO is initially amplified usingselected PCR primers. The primers will contain restriction enzyme siteswhich correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the selectedexpression vector, and other useful sequences providing for efficientand reliable translation initiation, rapid purification on a metalchelation column, and proteolytic removal with enterolinase. ThePCR-amplified, poly-His tagged sequences are then ligated into anexpression vector, which is used to transform an E. coli host based onstrain 52 (W3110 fuhA(tonA) lon galE rpoHts(htpRts) clpP(lacIq).Transformants are first grown in LB containing 50 mg/ml carbenicillin at30° C. with shaling until an OD₆₀₀ of 3-5 is reached. Cultures are thendiluted 50-100 fold into CRAP media (prepared by mixing 3.57 g(NH₄)₂SO₄, 0.71 g sodium citrate.2H₂O, 1.07 g KCl, 5.36 g Difco yeastextract, 5.36 g Sheffield hycase SF in 500 ml water, as well as 110 mMMPOS, pH 7.3, 0.55% (w/v) glucose and 7 mM MgSO₄) and grown forapproximately 20-30 hours at 30° C. with shaking. Samples are removed toverify expression by SDS-PAGE analysis, and the bulk culture iscentrifuged to pellet the cells. Cell pellets are frozen untilpurification and refolding.

E. coli paste from 0.5 to 1 L fermentations (6-10 g pellets) isresuspended in 10 volumes (w/v) in 7 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 8buffer. Solid sodium sulfite and sodium tetrathionate is added to makefinal concentrations of 0.1M and 0.02 M, respectively, and the solutionis stirred overnight at 4° C. This step results in a denatured proteinwith all cysteine residues blocked by sulfitolization. The solution iscentrifuged at 40,000 rpm in a Beckman Ultracentifuge for 30 min. Thesupernatant is diluted with 3-5 volumes of metal chelate column buffer(6 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4) and filtered through 0.22 micronfilters to clarify. The clarified extract is loaded onto a 5 ml QiagenNi²⁺—NTA metal chelate column equilibrated in the metal chelate columnbuffer. The column is washed with additional buffer containing 50 mMimidazole (Calbiochem, Utrol grade), pH 7.4. The protein is eluted withbuffer containing 250 mM imidazole. Fractions containing the desiredprotein are pooled and stored at 4° C. Protein concentration isestimated by its absorbance at 280 nm using the calculated extinctioncoefficient based on its amino acid sequence.

The proteins are refolded by diluting the sample slowly into freshlyprepared refolding buffer consisting of: 20 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 0.3 M NaCl,2.5 M urea, 5 mM cysteine, 20 mM glycine and 1 mM EDTA. Refoldingvolumes are chosen so that the final protein concentration is between 50to 100 micrograms/ml. The refolding solution is stirred gently at 4° C.for 12-36 hours. The refolding reaction is quenched by the addition ofTFA to a final concentration of 0.4% (pH of approximately 3). Beforefrther purification of the protein, the solution is filtered through a0.22 micron filter and acetonitrile is added to 2-10% finalconcentration. The refolded protein is chromatographed on a Poros R1/Hreversed phase column using a mobile buffer of 0.1% TFA with elutionwith a gradient of acetonitrile from 10 to 80%. Aliquots of fractionswith A₂₈₀ absorbance are analyzed on SDS polyacrylamide gels andfractions containing homogeneous refolded protein are pooled. Generally,the properly refolded species of most proteins are eluted at the lowestconcentrations of acetonitrile since those species are the most compactwith their hydrophobic interiors shielded from interaction with thereversed phase resin. Aggregated species are usually eluted at higheracetonitrile concentrations. In addition to resolving mnisfolded formsof proteins from the desired form, the reversed phase step also removesendotoxin from the samples.

Fractions containing the desired folded PRO polypeptide are pooled andthe acetonitrile removed using a gentle stream of nitrogen directed atthe solution. Proteins are formulated into 20 mM Hepes, pH 6.8 with 0.14M sodium chloride and 4% mannitol by dialysis or by gel filtration usingG25 Superfine (Pharmacia) resins equilibrated in the formulation bufferand sterile filtered.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as descibed above.

6.4. Example 4 Expression of PRO in Mammalian Cells

This example illustrates preparation of a potentially glycosylated formof PRO by recombinant expression in mammalian cells.

The vector, pRK5 (see EP 307,247, published Mar. 15, 1989), is employedas the expression vector. Optionally, the PRO DNA is ligated into pRK5with selected restriction enzymes to allow insertion of the PRO DNAusing ligation methods such as described in Sambrook et al., supra. Theresulting vector is called pRK5-PRO.

In one embodiment, the selected host cells may be 293 cells. Human 293cells (ATCC CCL 1573) are grown to confluence in tissue culture platesin medium such as DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum andoptionally, nutrient components and/or antibiotics. About 10 μg pRK5-PRODNA is mixed with about 1 μg DNA encoding the VA RNA gene [Thimmappayaet al., Cell, 31:543 (1982)] and dissolved in 500 μl of 1 mM Tris-HCl,0.1 mM EDTA, 0.227 M CaCl₂. To this mixture is added, dropwise, 500 μlof 50 mM HEPES (pH 7.35), 280 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM NaPO₄, and a precipitateis allowed to form for 10 minutes at 25° C. The precipitate is suspendedand added to the 293 cells and allowed to settle for about four hours at37° C. The culture medium is aspirated off and 2 ml of 20% glycerol inPBS is added for 30 seconds. The 293 cells are then washed with serumfree medium, fresh medium is added and the cells are incubated for about5 days.

Approximately 24 hours after the transfections, the culture medium isremoved and replaced with culture medium (alone) or culture mediumcontaining 200 μCi/ml ³⁵S-cysteine and 200 μCi/ml ³⁵S-methionine. Aftera 12 hour incubation, the conditioned medium is collected, concentratedon a spin filter, and loaded onto a 15% SDS gel. The processed gel maybe dried and exposed to film for a selected period of time to reveal thepresence of the PRO polypeptide. The cultures containing transfectedcells may undergo further incubation (in serum free medium) and themedium is tested in selected bioassays.

In an alternative technique, PRO may be introduced into 293 cellstransiently using the dextran sulfate method described by Somparyrac etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 12:7575 (1981). 293 cells are grown tomaximal density in a spinner flask and 700 μg pRK5-PRO DNA is added. Thecells are first concentrated from the spinner flask by centrifugationand washed with PBS. The DNA-dextran precipitate is incubated on thecell pellet for four hours. The cells are treated with 20% glycerol for90 seconds, washed with tissue culture medium, and re-introduced intothe spinner flask containing tissue culture medium, 5 μg/ml bovineinsulin and 0.1 μg/ml bovine transferrin. After about four days, theconditioned media is centrifuged and filtered to remove cells anddebris. The sample containing expressed PRO can then be concentrated andpurified by any selected method, such as dialysis and/or columnchromatography.

In another embodiment, PRO can be expressed in CHO cells. The pRK5-PROcan be transfected into CHO cells using known reagents such as CaPO₄ orDEAE-dextran. As described above, the cell cultures can be incubated,and the medium replaced with culture medium (alone) or medium containinga radiolabel such as ³⁵S-methionine. After determining the presence of aPRO polypeptide, the culture medium may be replaced with serum freemedium. Preferably, the cultures are incubated for about 6 days, andthen the conditioned medium is harvested. The medium containing theexpressed PRO polypeptide can then be concentrated and purified by anyselected method.

Epitope-tagged PRO may also be expressed in host CHO cells. The PRO maybe subdloned out of the pRK5 vector. The subdlone insert can undergo PCRto fuse in frame with a selected epitope tag such as a poly-His tag intoa Baculovirus expression vector. The poly-His tagged PRO insert can thenbe subdloned into a SV40 driven vector containing a selection markersuch as DHFR for selection of stable clones. Finally, the CHO cells canbe transfected (as described above) with the SV40 driven vector.Labeling may be performed, as described above, to verify expression. Theculture medium containing the expressed poly-His tagged PRO can then beconcentrated and purified by any selected method, such as byNi²⁺-chelate affinity chromatography.

PRO may also be expressed in CHO and/or COS cells by a transientexpression procedure or in CHO cells by another stable expressionprocedure.

Stable expression in CHO cells is performed using the followingprocedure. The proteins are expressed as an IgG construct(immunoadhesin), in which the coding sequences for the soluble forms(e.g., extracellular domains) of the respective proteins are fused to anIgG1 constant region sequence containing the hinge, CH2 and CH2 domainsand/or as a poly-His tagged form.

Following PCR amplification, the respective DNAs are subcloned in a CHOexpression vector using standard techniques as described in Ausubel etal., Current Protocols of Molecular Biology, Unit 3.16, John Wiley andSons (1997). CHO expression vectors are constructed to have compatiblerestriction sites 5′ and 3′ of the DNA of interest to allow theconvenient shuttling of cDNA's. The vector used in expression in CHOcells is as described in Lucas et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 24:9 (1774-1779(1996), and uses the SV40 early promoter/enhancer to drive expression ofthe cDNA of interest and dihydrofolate reductase (DBFR). DHFR expressionpermits selection for stable maintenance of the plasmid followingtransfection.

Twelve micrograms of the desired plasmid DNA is introduced intoapproximately 10 million CHO cells using commercially availabletransfection reagents Superfect® (Qiagen), Dosper® or Fugene®(Boehringer Mannheim). The cells are grown as described in Lucas et al.,supra. Approximately 3×10⁷ cells are frozen in an ampule for furthergrowth and production as described below.

The ampules containing the plasmid DNA are thawed by placement into awater bath and mixed by vortexing. The contents are pipetted into acentrifuge tube containing 10 ml of media and centrifuged at 1000 rpmfor 5 minutes. The supernatant is aspirated and the cells areresuspended in 10 ml of selective media (0.2 μm filtered PS20 with 5%0.2 μm diafiltered fetal bovine serum). The cells are then aliquotedinto a 100 ml spinner containing 90 ml of selective media. After 1-2days, the cells are transferred into a 250 ml spinner filled with 150 mlselective growth medium and incubated at 37° C. After another 2-3 days,250 ml, 500 ml and 2000 ml spinners are seeded with 3×10⁵ cells/ml. Thecell media is exchanged with fresh media by centrifugation andresuspension in production medium. Although any suitable CHO media maybe employed, a production medium described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,469,issued Jun. 16, 1992 may actually be used. A 3L production spinner isseeded at 1.2×10⁶ cells/ml. On day 0, the cell number and pH isdetermined. On day 1, the spinner is sampled and sparging with filteredair is commenced. On day 2, the spinner is sampled, the temperatureshifted to 33° C., and 30 ml of 500 g/L glucose and 0.6 ml of 10%antifoam (e.g., 35% polydimethylsiloxane emu Dow Corning 365 MedicalGrade Emulsion) taken. Throughout the production, the pH is adjusted asnecessary to keep it at around 7.2. After 10 days, or until theviability drops below 70%, the cell culture is harvested bycentrifugation and filtering through a 0.22 μm filter. The filtrate iseither stored at 4° C. or immediately loaded onto columns forpurification.

For the poly-His tagged constructs, the proteins are purified using aNi²⁺-NTA column (Qiagen). Before purification, imidazole is added to theconditioned media to a concentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media ispumped onto a 6 ml Ni²⁺-NTA column equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4,buffer containing 0.3 M NaCl and 5 nM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5ml/min. at 4° C. After loading, the column is washed with additionalequilibration buffer and the protein eluted with equilibration buffercontaining 0.25 M imidazole. The highly purified protein is subsequentlydesalted into a storage buffer containing 10 mM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and4% mannitol, pH 6.8, with a 25 ml G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) column andstored at −80° C.

Immunoadhesin (Fc-containing) constructs are purified from theconditioned media as follows. The conditioned medium is pumped onto a 5ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which has been equilibrated in 20 mM Naphosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After loading, the column is washedextensively with equilibration buffer before elution with 100 mM citricacid, pH 3.5. The eluted protein is immediately neutralized bycollecting 1 ml fractions into tubes containing 275 μl of 1 M Trisbuffer, pH 9. The highly purified protein is subsequently desalted intostorage buffer as described above for the poly-His tagged proteins. Thehomogeneity is assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gels and by N-terminalamino acid sequencing by Edman degradation.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as descibed above.

6.5. Example 5 Expression of PRO in Yeast

The following method describes recombinant expression of PRO in yeast.

First, yeast expression vectors are constructed for intracellularproduction or secretion of PRO from the ADH2/GAPDH promoter. DNAencoding PRO and the promoter is inserted into suitable restrictionenzyme sites in the selected plasmid to direct intracellular expressionof PRO. For secretion, DNA encoding PRO can be cloned into the selectedplasmid, together with DNA encoding the ADH2/GAPDH promoter, a nativePRO signal peptide or other mammalian signal peptide, or, for example, ayeast alpha-factor or invertase secretory signal/leader sequence, andlinker sequences (if needed) for expression of PRO.

Yeast cells, such as yeast strain AB110, can then be transformed withthe expression plasmids described above and cultured in selectedfermentation media The transformed yeast supernatants can be analyzed byprecipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid and separation by SDS-PAGE,followed by staining of the gels with Coomassie Blue stain.

Recombinant PRO can subsequently be isolated and purified by removingthe yeast cells from the fermentation medium by centrifugation and thenconcentrating the medium using selected cartridge filters. Theconcentrate containing PRO may further be purified using selected columnchromatography resins.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

6.6. Example 6 Expression of PRO in Baculovirus-Infected Insect Cells

The following method describes recombinant expression inBaculovirus-infected insect cells.

The sequence coding for PRO is fused upstream of an epitope tagcontained within a baculovirus expression vector. Such epitope tagsinclude poly-Ilis tags and immunoglobulin tags (like Fc regions of IgG).A variety of plasmids may be employed, including plasmids derived fromcommercially available plasmids such as pVL1393 (Novagen). Briefly, thesequence encoding PRO or the desired portion of the coding sequence ofPRO (such as the sequence encoding the extracellular domain of atransmembrane protein or the sequence encoding the mature protein if theprotein is extracellular) is amplified by PCR with primers complementaryto the 5′ and 3′ regions. The 5′ primer may incorporate flanking(selected) restriction enzyme sites. The product is then digested withthose selected restriction enzymes and subdloned into the expressionvector.

Recombinant baculovirus is generated by co-transfecting the aboveplasmid and BaculoGold™ virus DNA (Pharmingen) into Spodopterafrugiperda (“Sf9”) cells (ATCC CRL 1711) using lipofectin (commerciallyavailable from GIBCO-BRL). After 4-5 days of incubation at 28° C., thereleased viruses are harvested and used for further amplifications.Viral infection and protein expression are performed as described byO'Reilley et al., Baculovirus exuression vectors: A Laboratory Manual,Oxford: Oxford University Press (1994).

Expressed poly-His tagged PRO can then be purified, for example, byNi²⁺-chelate affinity chromatography as follows. Extracts are preparedfrom recombinant virus-infected Sf9 cells as described by Rupert et al.,Nature, 362:175-179 (1993). Briefly, Sf9 cells are washed, resuspendedin sonication buffer (25 ml Hepes, pH 7.9; 12.5 mM MgCl₂; 0.1 mM EDTA;10% glycerol; 0.1% NP-40; 0.4 M KCl), and sonicated twice for 20 secondson ice. The sonicates are cleared by centrifugation, and the supernatantis diluted 50-fold in loading buffer (50 mM phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 10%glycerol, pH 7.8) and filtered through a 0.45 μm filter. A Ni²⁺-NTAagarose column (commercially available from Qiagen) is prepared with abed volume of 5 ml, washed with 25 ml of water and equilibrated with 25ml of loading buffer. The filtered cell extract is loaded onto thecolumn at 0.5 ml per minute. The column is washed to baseline A₂₈₀ withloading buffer, at which point fraction collection is started. Next, thecolumn is washed with a secondary wash buffer (50 mM phosphate; 300 mMNaCl, 10% glycerol, pH 6.0), which elutes nonspecifically bound protein.After reaching A₂₈₀ baseline again, the column is developed with a 0 to500 mM imidazole gradient in the secondary wash buffer. One ml fractionsare collected and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and silver staining or Westernblot with-Ni²⁺-NTA-conjugated to alkline phosphatase (Qiagen). Fractionscontaining the eluted His₁₀-tagged PRO are pooled and dialyzed againstloading buffer.

Alternatively, purification of the IgG tagged (or Fc tagged) PRO can beperformed using known chromatography techniques, including for instance,Protein A or protein G column chromatography.

Following PCR amplification, the respective coding sequences aresubdloned into a baculovirus expression vector (pb.PH.IgG for IgGfusions and pb.PH.His.c for poly-His tagged proteins), and the vectorand Baculogold® baculovirus DNA (Pharmningen) are co-transfected into105 Spodoptera frugiperda (“Sf9”) cells (ATCC CRL 1711), usingLipofectin (Gibco BRL). pb.PH.IgG and pb.PH.His are modifications of thecommercially available baculovirus expression vector pVL1393(Pharmingen), with modified polylinker regions to include the His or Fctag sequences. The cells are grown in Hink's TNM-FH medium supplementedwith 10% FBS (Hyclone). Cells are incubated for 5 days at 28° C. Thesupernatant is harvested and subsequently used for the first viralamplification by infecting Sf9 cells in Hink's TNM-FH mediumsupplemented with 10% FBS at an approximate multiplicity of infection(MOI) of 10. Cells are incubated for 3 days at 28° C. The supernatant isharvested and the expression of the constructs in the baculovirusexpression vector is determined by batch binding of 1 ml of supernatantto 25 ml of Ni²⁺-NTA beads (QIAGEN) for histidine tagged proteins orProtein-A Sepharose CL-4B beads (Pharmacia) for IgG tagged proteinsfollowed by SDS-PAGE analysis comparing to a known concentration ofprotein standard by Coomassie blue staining.

The first viral amplification supernatant is used to infect a spinnerculture (500 ml) of Sf9 cells grown in ESF-921 niedium (ExpressionSystems LLC) at an approximate MOI of 0.1. Cells are incubated for 3days at 28° C. The supernatant is harvested and filtered. Batch bindingand SDS-PAGE analysis is repeated, as necessary, until expression of thespinner culture is confirmed.

The conditioned medium from the transfected cells (0.5 to 3 L) isharvested by centrifugation to remove the cells and filtered through0.22 micron filters. For the poly-His tagged constructs, the proteinconstruct is purified using a Ni²⁺-NTA column (Qiagen). Beforepurification, imidazole is added to the conditioned media to aconcentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media is pumped onto a 6 mlNi²⁺-NTA column equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, buffer containing0.3 M NaCl and 5 mM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5 ml/min. at 4° C.After loading, the column is washed with additional equilibration bufferand the protein eluted with equilibration buffer containing 0.25 Mimidazole. The highly purified protein is subsequently desalted into astorage buffer containing 10 nM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and 4% mannitol, pH6.8, with a 25 ml G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) column and stored at −80° C.

Immunoadhesin (Fc containing) constructs of proteins are purified fromthe conditioned media as follows. The conditioned media is pumped onto a5 ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which has been equilibrated in 20 mMNa phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After loading, the column is washedextensively with equilibration buffer before elution with 100 mM citricacid, pH 3.5. The eluted protein is immediately neutralized bycollecting 1 ml fractions into tubes containing 275 ml of 1 M Trisbuffer, pH 9. The highly purified protein is subsequently desalted intostorage buffer as described above for the poly-His tagged proteins. Thehomogeneity of the proteins is verified by SDS polyacrylamide gel (PEG)electrophoresis and N-terminal amino acid sequencing by Edmandegradation.

Alternatively, a modified baculovirus procedure may be usedincorporating high-5 cells. In this procedure, the DNA encoding thedesired sequence is amplified with suitable systems, such as Pfu(Stratagene), or fused upstream (5′-of) of an epitope tag contained witha baculovirus expression vector. Such epitope tags include poly-His tagsand immunoglobulin tags (like Fc regions of IgG). A variety of plasmidsmay be employed, including plasmids derived from commercially availableplasmids such as pIE1-1 (Novagen). The pIE1-1 and pIE1-2 vectors aredesigned for constitutive expression of recombinant proteins from thebaculovirus ie1 promoter in stably-transformed insect cells (1). Theplasmids differ only in the orientation of the multiple cloning sitesand contain all promoter sequences known to be important forie1-mediated gene expression in uninfected insect cells as well as thehr5 enhancer element. pIE1-1 and pIEl-2 include the translationinitiation site and can be used to produce fusion proteins. Briefly, thedesired sequence or the desired portion of the sequence (such as thesequence encoding the extracellular domain of a transmembrane protein)is amplified by PCR with primers complementary to the 5′ and 3′ regions.The 5′ primer may incorporate flanking (selected) restriction enzymesites. The product is then digested with those selected restrictionenzymes and subcloned into the expression vector. For example,derivatives of pIE1-1 can include the Fc region of human IgG (pb.PH.IgG)or an 8 histidine (pb.PH.His) tag downstream (3′-of) the desiredsequence. Preferably, the vector construct is sequenced forconfirmation.

High-5 cells are grown to a confluency of 50% under the conditions of,27° C., no CO₂, NO pen/strep. For each 150 mm plate, 30 μg of pIE basedvector containing the sequence is mixed with 1 ml Ex-Cell medium (Media:Ex-Cell 401+1/100 L-Glu JRH Biosciences #14401-78P (note: this media islight sensitive)), and in a separate tube, 100 μl of CellFectin(CelIFECTIN (GibcoBRL #10362-010) (vortexed to mix)) is mixed with 1 mlof Ex-Cell medium. The two solutions are combined and allowed toincubate at room temperature for 15 minutes. 8 ml of Ex-Cell media isadded to the 2 ml of DNA/CellPECTIN mix and this is layered on high-5cells that have been washed once with Ex-Cell media. The plate is thenincubated in darkness for 1 hour at room temperature. The DNA/CellFECTINmix is then aspirated, and the cells are washed once with Ex-Cell toremove excess CelIFECTIN, 30 ml of fresh Ex-Cell media is added and thecells are incubated for 3 days at 28° C. The supernatant is harvestedand the expression of the sequence in the baculovirus expression vectoris determined by batch binding of 1 ml of supernatent to 25 ml ofNi²⁺-NTA beads (QIAGEN) for histidine tagged proteins or Protein-ASepharose CL-4B beads (Pharmnacia) for IgG tagged proteins followed bySDS-PAGE analysis comparing to a known concentration of protein standardby Coomassie blue staining.

The conditioned media from the transfected cells (0.5 to 3 L) isharvested by centrifugation to remove the cells and filtered through0.22 micron filters. For the poly-His tagged constructs, the proteincomprising the sequence is purified using a Ni²⁺-NTA column (Qiagen).Before purification, imidazole is added to the conditioned media to aconcentration of 5 mM. The conditioned media is pumped onto a 6 mlNi²⁺-NTA column equilibrated in 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.4, buffer containing0.3 M NaCl and 5 mM imidazole at a flow rate of 4-5 ml/min. at 48° C.After loading, the column is washed with additional equilibration bufferand the protein eluted with equilibration buffer containing 0.25 Mimidazole. The highly purified protein is then subsequently desaltedinto a storage buffer containing 10 mM Hepes, 0.14 M NaCl and 4%mannitol, pH 6.8, with a 25 ml G25 Superfine (Pharmacia) column andstored at −80° C.

Immunoadhesin (Fc containing) constructs of proteins are purified fromthe conditioned media as follows. The conditioned media is pumped onto a5 ml Protein A column (Pharmacia) which had been equilibrated in 20 mMNa phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. After loading, the column is washedextensively with equilibration buffer before elution with 100 mM citricacid, pH 3.5. The eluted protein is immediately neutralized bycollecting 1 ml fractions into tubes containing 275 ml of 1 M Trisbuffer, pH 9. The highly purified protein is subsequently desalted intostorage buffer as described above for the poly-His tagged proteins. Thehomogeneity of the sequence is assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gels andby N-terminal amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation and otheranalytical procedures as desired or necessary.

Many of the PRO polypeptides disclosed herein were successfullyexpressed as described above.

6.7. Example 7 Preparation of Antibodies that Bind PRO

This example illustrates preparation of monoclonal antibodies which canspecifically bind the PRO polypeptide or an epitope on the PROpolypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide orpolypeptide epitope.

Techniques for producing the monoclonal antibodies are known in the artand are described, for instance, in Goding, supra. Immunogens that maybe employed include purified PRO, fusion proteins containing PRO, andcells expressing recombinant PRO on the cell surface. Selection of theimmunogen can be made by the skilled artisan without undueexperimentation.

Mice, such as Balb/c, are immunized with the PRO immunogen emulsified incomplete Freund's adjuvant and injected subcutaneously orintraperitoneally in an amount from 1-100 micrograms. Alternatively, theimmunogen is emulsified in MPL-TDM adjuvant (Ribi ImmunochemicalResearch, Hamilton, Mont.) and injected into the animal's hind footpads. The immunized mice are then boosted 10 to 12 days later withadditional immunogen emulsified in the selected adjuvant. Thereafter,for several weeks, the mice may also be boosted with additionalimmunization injections. Serum samples may be periodically obtained fromthe mice by retro-orbital bleeding for testing in ELISA assays to detectanti-PRO antibodies.

After a suitable antibody titer has been detected, the animals“positive” for antibodies can be injected with a final intravenousinjection of PRO. Three to four days later, the mice are sacrificed andthe spleen cells are harvested. The spleen cells are then fused (using35% polyethylene glycol) to a selected murine myeloma cell line such asP3X63AgU.1, available from ATCC, No. CRL 1597. The fusions generatehybridoma cells which can then be plated in 96 well tissue cultureplates containing HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine) mediumto inhibit proliferation of non-fused cells, myeloma hybrids, and spleencell hybrids.

The hybridoma cells will be screened in an ELISA for reactivity againstPRO. Determination of “positive” hybridoma cells secreting the desiredmonoclonal antibodies against PRO is within the skill in the art Thepositive hybridoma cells can be injected intraperitoneally intosyngeneic Balb/c mice to produce ascites containing the anti-PROmonoclonal antibodies. Alternatively, the hybridoma cells can be grownin tissue culture flasks or roller bottles. Purification of themonoclonal antibodies produced in the ascites can be accomplished usingammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by gel exclusionchromatography. Alternatively, affinity chromatography based uponbinding of antibody to protein A or protein G can be employed.

6.8. Example 8 Purification of PRO Polypeptides using SpecificAntibodies

Native or recombinant PRO polypeptides may be purified by a variety ofstandard techniques in the art of protein purification. For example,pro-PRO polypeptide, mature PRO polypeptide, or pre-PRO polypeptide ispurified by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies specific forthe PRO polypeptide of interest. In general, an immunoaffinity column isconstructed by covalently coupling the anti-PRO polypeptide antibody toan activated chromatographic resin.

Polyclonal immunoglobulins are prepared from immune sera either byprecipitation with ammonium sulfate or by purification on immobilizedProtein A (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Piscataway, N.J.). Likewise,monoclonal antibodies are prepared from mouse ascites fluid by ammoniumsulfate precipitation or chromatography on immobilized Protein A.Partially purified immunoglobulin is covalently attached to achromatographic resin such as CnBr-activated SEPHAROSE™ (Pharmacia LKBBiotechnology). The antibody is coupled to the resin, the resin isblocked, and the derivative resin is washed according to themanufacturer's instructions.

Such an immunoaffinity column is utilized in the purification of PROpolypeptide by preparing a fraction from cells containing PROpolypeptide in a soluble form. This preparation is derived bysolubilization of the whole cell or of a subcellular fraction obtainedvia differential centrifugation by the addition of detergent or by othermethods well known in the art. Alternatively, soluble PRO polypeptidecontaining a signal sequence may be secreted in useful quantity into themedium in which the cells are grown.

A soluble PRO polypeptide-containing preparation is passed over theimmunoaffinity column, and the column is washed under conditions thatallow the preferential absorbance of PRO polypeptide (e.g., high ionicstrength buffers in the presence of detergent). Then, the column iseluted under conditions that disrupt antibody/PRO polypeptide binding(e.g., a low pH buffer such as approximately pH 2-3, or a highconcentration of a chaotrope such as urea or thiocyanate ion), and PROpolypeptide is collected.

6.9. Example 9 Drug Screening

This invention is particularly useful for screening compounds by usingPRO polypeptides or binding fragment thereof in any of a variety of drugscreening techniques. The PRO polypeptide or fragment employed in such atest may either be free in solution, affixed to a solid support, borneon a cell surface, or located intracellularly. One method of drugscreening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stablytransformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the PROpolypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screened against such transformedcells in competitive binding assays. Such cells, either in viable orfixed form, can be used for standard binding assays. One may measure,for example, the formation of complexes between PRO polypeptide or afragment and the agent being tested. Alternatively, one can examine thediminution in complex formation between the PRO polypeptide and itstarget cell or target receptors caused by the agent being tested.

Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs orany other agents which can affect a PRO polypeptide-associated diseaseor disorder. These methods comprise contacting such an agent with an PROpolypeptide or fragment thereof and assaying (I) for the presence of acomplex between the agent and the PRO polypeptide or fragment, or (ii)for the presence of a complex between the PRO polypeptide or fragmentand the cell, by methods well known in the art. In such competitivebinding assays, the PRO polypeptide or fragment is typically labeled.After suitable incubation, free PRO polypeptide or fragment is separatedfrom that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexedlabel is a measure of the ability of the particular agent to bind to PROpolypeptide or to interfere with the PRO polypeptide/cell complex.

Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screeningfor compounds having suitable binding affinity to a polypeptide and isdescribed in detail in WO 84/03564, published on Sep. 13, 1984. Brieflystated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds aresynthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some othersurface. As applied to a PRO polypeptide, the peptide test compounds arereacted with PRO polypeptide and washed. Bound PRO polypeptide isdetected by methods well known in the art. Purified PRO polypeptide canalso be coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drugscreening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies can beused to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.

This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screeningassays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding PROpolypeptide specifically compete with a test compound for binding to PROpolypeptide or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies can beused to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or moreantigenic determinants with PRO polypeptide.

6.10. Example 10 Rational Drug Design

The goal of rational drug design is to produce structural analogs ofbiologically active polypeptide of interest (i.e., a PRO polypeptide) orof small molecules with which they interact, e.g., agonists,antagonists, or inhibitors. Any of these examples can be used to fashiondrugs which are more active or stable forms of the PRO polypeptide orwhich enhance or interfere with the function of the PRO polypeptide invivo (c.f., Hodgson, Bio/Technology 9: 19-21(1991)).

In one approach, the three-dimensional structure of the PRO polypeptide,or of an PRO polypeptide-inhibitor complex, is determined by x-raycrystallography, by computer modeling or, most typically, by acombination of the two approaches. Both the shape and charges of the PROpolypeptide must be ascertained to elucidate the structure and todetermine active site(s) of the molecule. Less often, useful informationregarding the structure of the PRO polypeptide may be gained by modelingbased on the structure of homologous proteins. In both cases, relevantstructural information is used to design analogous PRO polypeptide-likemolecules or to identify efficient inhibitors. Useful examples ofrational drug design may include molecules which have improved activityor stability as shown by Braxton and Wells, Biochemistry, 31:7796-7801(1992) or which act as inhibitors, agonists, or antagonists of nativepeptides as shown by Athauda et al., J. Biochem., 113:742-746 (1993).

It is also possible to isolate a target-specific antibody, selected byfunctional assay, as described above, and then to solve its crystalstructure. This approach, in principle, yields a pharmacore upon whichsubsequent drug design can be based. It is possible to bypass proteincrystallography altogether by generating anti-idiotypic antibodies(anti-ids) to a functional, pharmacologically active antibody. As amirror image of a mirror image, the binding site of the anti-ids wouldbe expected to be an analog of the original receptor. The anti-id couldthen be used to identify and isolate peptides from banks of chemicallyor biologically produced peptides. The isolated peptides would then actas the pharmacore.

By virtue of the present invention, sufficient amounts of the PROpolypeptide may be made available to perform such analytical studies asX-ray crystallography. In addition, knowledge of the PRO polypeptideamino acid sequence provided herein will provide guidance to thoseemploying computer modeling techniques in place of or in addition tox-ray crystallography.

6.11. Example 11 Quantitative Analysis of PRO mRNA Expression

In this assay, a 5′ nuclease assay (for example, TaqMan®) and real-timequantitative PCR (for example, ABI Prism® 7700 Sequence Detection System(Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.)), were used to find genes thatare overexpressed in an IBD as compared to normal non-EBD tissue. The 5′nuclease assay reaction is a fluorescent PCR-based technique which makesuse of the 5′ exonuclease activity of Taq DNA polymerase enzyme tomonitor gene expression in real time. Two oligonucleotide primers (whosesequences are based upon the gene of interest) are used to generate anamplicon typical of a PCR reaction. A third oligonucleotide, or probe,is designed to detect nucleotide sequence located between the two PCRprimers. The probe is non-extendible by Taq DNA polymerase enzyme, andis labeled with a reporter fluorescent dye and a quencher fluorescentdye. Any laser-induced emission from the reporter dye is quenched by thequenching dye when the two dyes are located close together as they areon the probe. During the PCR amplification reactioni, the Taq DNApolymerase enzyme cleaves the probe in a template-dependent manner. Theresultant probe fragments disassociate in solution, and signal from thereleased reporter dye is free from the quenching effect of the secondfluorophore. One molecule of reporter dye is liberated for each newmolecule synthesized, and detection of the unquenched reporter dyeprovides the basis for quantitative interpretation of the data.

The 5′ nuclease procedure is run on a real-time quantitative PCR devicesuch as the ABI Prism® 7700 Sequence Detection System. The systemconsists of a thermocycler, laser, charge-coupled device (CCD) cameraand computer. The system amplifies samples in a 96-well format on athermocycler. During amplification, laser-induced fluorescent signal iscollected in real-time through fiber optics cables for all 96 wells, anddetected at the CCD. The system includes software for running theinstrument and for analyzing the data.

5′ nuclease assay data are initially expressed as C_(t), or thethreshold cycle. This is defined as the cycle at which the reportersignal accumulates above the background level of fluorescence. TheΔC_(t) value is used as quantitative measurement of the relative numberof starting copies of a particular target sequence in a nucleic acidsample when compared to an internal standard (GAPDH transcripts). ΔC_(t)is calculated as ΔC_(t)=C_(t) ^(gene1 in sample1)−C_(t)^(GAPDH in sample1). This is to control for differences in mRNAconcentration in the different samples. Data from the six normal colonRNA samples were averaged together, and then the ΔC_(t) calculated usingGAPDH as the reference.

The ΔΔC_(t) values are used as quantitative measurement of the relativenumber of starting copies of a particular target sequence in a nucleicacid sample when comparing IBD colon RNA results to normal colon RNAresults. The ΔΔC_(t) was calculated by subtracting the signal for thenormal colon mRNA from the signal for disease mRNA. ΔΔC_(t)=ΔC_(t)^(disease)−ΔC_(t) ^(normal). The fold difference was calculated as2^(−ΔΔCT). As one C_(t) unit corresponds to 1 PCR cycle, orapproximately a 2-fold relative increase relative to normal, two unitscorresponds to a 4-fold relative increase, 3 units corresponds to an8-fold relative increase and so on, one can quantitatively measure therelative fold increase in mRNA expression between two or more differenttissues.

Using this technique, the molecules listed below have been identified asbeing significantly overexpressed (fold difference≧15 in IBD versusnormal) or underexpressed (fold difference ≦50 in IBD versus normal) ingreater than ⅓ of IBD samples as compared to normal non-IBD tissue. In aseparate analysis, the raw C_(t) values were analyzed by aKruskal-Wallis test with the hypothesis that the genes had common C_(t)values in the UC, CD and normal groups. The genes were ranked by theirKruskal-Wallis statistic scores, with larger scores indicatingdifferences in expression between the groups. The genes thus identifiedrepresent excellent polypeptide targets for the diagnosis and therapy ofIBD in mammals. Molecule as compared to: upregulation of expression in:DNA92247 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colontissue DNA188425 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normalcolon tissue DNA188287 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA188332 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colontissue DNA87994 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normalcolon tissue DNA188278 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA99331 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colontissue DNA64882 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188277Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188182 Ulcerativecolitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA105792Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissueDNA59776 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA62377Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188355 Ulcerativecolitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA171372Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188302 Ulcerativecolitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA88432Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissueDNA51786 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA95930Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188205 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA77509 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA40576 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA33461 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normalcolon tissue DNA33085 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA32279 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA69553Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188448 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA102850 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA194566 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseasematched normal colon tissue DNA77512 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn'sdisease matched normal colon tissue DNA33785 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA82352 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseasematched normal colon tissue DNA188340 Ulcerative colitis matched normalcolon tissue DNA188203 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA145582 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA88417Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA101222 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA199788 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA166819 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA81752 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188270Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA82305 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA107429 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA168061 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA33457 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA36725Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188200 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA45416 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA80896 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA82352 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA82363Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA82368 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA83103 Ulcerative colitis andCrohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA83500 Ulcerative colitismatched normal colon tissue DNA88002 Ulcerative colitis matched normalcolon tissue DNA92282 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA96934 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colontissue DNA96943 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA97005Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA98553 Ulcerative colitismatched normal colon tissue DNA102845 Ulcerative colitis matched normalcolon tissue DNA108735 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA164455 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188178Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188271 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA188338 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA188342 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA188427 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissueDNA195011 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matched normal colontissue DNA188244 Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA165608Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissue DNA188339 Crohn's diseasematched normal colon tissue DNA188175 Crohn's disease matched normalcolon tissue downregulation of expression in: DNA51786 Crohn's diseasematched normal colon tissue DNA52594 Crohn's disease matched normalcolon tissue DNA200227 Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease matchednormal colon tissue DNA27865 Crohn's disease matched normal colon tissueDNA33094 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA48328Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue DNA50960 Ulcerativecolitis matched normal colon tissue DNA82319 Ulcerative colitis matchednormal colon tissue DNA97005 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colontissue DNA108715 Ulcerative colitis matched normal colon tissue

The foregoing written specification is considered to be sufficient toenable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. The presentinvention is not to be limited in scope by the construct deposited,since the deposited embodiment is intended as a single illustration ofcertain aspects of the invention and any constructs that arefunctionally equivalent are within the scope of this invention. Thedeposit of material herein does not constitute an admission that thewritten description herein contained is inadequate to enable thepractice of any aspect of the invention, including the best modethereof, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimsto the specific illustrations that it represents. Indeed, variousmodifications of the invention in addition to those shown and describedherein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing description and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. An isolated nucleic acid having at least 80% nucleic acid sequenceidentity to: (a) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6(SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12(SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18(SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24(SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30(SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36(SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42(SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48(SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54(SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60(SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66(SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72(SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78(SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84(SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90(SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96(SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG.102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106),FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ IDNO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118(SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122),FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ IDNO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134(SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138),FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ IDNO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150(SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154),FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ IDNO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); (b) a nucleotide sequence thatencodes the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4(SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 9 8 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100(SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:1 04),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ED NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); , lackingits associated signal peptide; (c) a nucleotide sequence that encodesthe extracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ IDNO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8),FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14),FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20),FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26),FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32),FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38),FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44),FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50),FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56),FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62),FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68),FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74),FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80),FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86),FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92),FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98),FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ IDNO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110(SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114),FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ IDNO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126(SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130),FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ IDNO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142(SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146),FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ IDNO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158(SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162),with its associated signal peptide; (d) a nucleotide sequence thatencodes the extracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ IDNO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ IDNO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ IDNO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ IDNO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ IDNO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ IDNO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ IDNO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ IDNO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ IDNO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ IDNO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ IDNO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ IDNO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ IDNO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ IDNO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ IDNO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162), lacking its associated signal peptide; (e) the nucleotidesequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5(SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77(SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83(SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89(SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95(SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101(SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105); (f)the full-length coding sequence of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG.1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); (g) the full-length coding sequence of the cDNAdeposited under any ATCC accession number shown in Table 7 or availableunder any Accession Number shown in Table 8; or (h) the complement of(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g).
 2. An isolated nucleic acidcomprising: (a) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6(SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12(SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18(SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24(SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30(SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36(SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42(SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48(SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54(SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60(SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66(SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72(SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78(SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84(SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ED NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90(SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96(SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG.102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106),FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ IDNO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118(SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122),FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ IDNO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134(SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138),FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ IDNO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150(SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154),FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ IDNO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); (b) a nucleotide sequence thatencodes the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4(SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106(SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110),FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ IDNO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122(SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126),FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ IDNO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138(SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142),FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ IDNO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154(SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158),FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lacking itsassociated signal peptide; (c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ED NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), with itsassociated signal peptide; (d) a nucleotide sequence that encodes theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (e) the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG.1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105) FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111(SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); (f) the full-length coding sequence of the nucleotidesequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5(SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77(SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83(SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89(SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95(SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101(SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG.107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111),FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ IDNO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123(SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127),FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ IDNO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139(SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143),FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ IDNO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155(SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159),FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (g) the full-length coding sequence of thecDNA deposited under any ATCC accession number shown in Table 7 oravailable under any Accession Number shown in Table 8; or (h) thecomplement of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g).
 3. An isolatednucleic acid that hybridizes to: (a) a nucleotide sequence that encodesthe amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ IDNO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ IDNO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ IDNO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ IDNO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ IDNO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ IDNO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ IDNO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ IDNO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ IDNO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ IDNO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ IDNO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ IDNO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ IDNO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ IDNO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ IDNO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ IDNO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ IDNO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106(SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110),FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ IDNO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122(SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126),FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ IDNO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138(SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142),FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ IDNO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154(SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158),FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); (b) a nucleotidesequence that encodes the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ IDNO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8),FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14),FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20),FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26),FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32),FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38),FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44),FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50),FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56),FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62),FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68),FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74),FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80),FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86),FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92),FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98),FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ IDNO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110(SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114),FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ IDNO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126(SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130),FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ IDNO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142(SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146),FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ IDNO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158(SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162),lacking its associated signal peptide; (c) a nucleotide sequence thatencodes the extraceltular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ IDNO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ IDNO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ IDNO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ IDNO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ IDNO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ IDNO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ IDNO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ IDNO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ IDNO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ IDNO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ IDNO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ IDNO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ IDNO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ IDNO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ IDNO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ BD NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG.
 158. (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162), with its associated signal peptide; (d) a nucleotide sequencethat encodes the extracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2(SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162), lacking its associated signal peptide; (e) the nucleotidesequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5(SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77(SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83(SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89(SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95(SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101(SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105),FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ IDNO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (f) the full-length coding sequenceof the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ IDNO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9),FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15),FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21),FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27),FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33),FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39),FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45),FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51),FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57),FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63),FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69),FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ IDNO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ IDNO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ IDNO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ IDNO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ IDNO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105(SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG.111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115),FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ IDNO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ]ID NO:125), FIG. 127(SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131),FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ IDNO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143(SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147),FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ IDNO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159(SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (g) the full-length codingsequence of the cDNA deposited under any ATCC accession number shown inTable 7 or available under any Accession Number shown in Table 8; or (h)the complement of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g).
 4. The nucleicacid of claim 3, wherein the hybridization occurs under stringentconditions.
 5. The nucleic acid of claim 3 which is at least about 5nucleotides in length.
 6. An expression vector comprising the nucleicacid of claim
 1. 7. The expression vector of claim 6, wherein saidnucleic acid is operably linked to control sequences recognized by ahost cell transformed with the vector.
 8. A host cell comprising theexpression vector of claim
 7. 9. The host cell of claim 8 which is a CHOcell, an E. coli cell or a yeast cell.
 10. A process for producing apolypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of claim 8 underconditions suitable for expression of said polypeptide and recoveringsaid polypeptide from the cell culture.
 11. An isolated polypeptidehaving at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6(SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12(SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18(SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24(SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30(SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36(SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42(SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48(SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54(SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60(SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66(SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72(SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78(SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84(SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90(SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96(SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG.102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106),FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 112 (SEQ IDNO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118(SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122),FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ IDNO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134(SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138),FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ IDNO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150(SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154),FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ IDNO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); (b) the amino acid sequence shownin FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6),FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12),FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18),FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24),FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30),FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36),FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42),FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:4 4), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48),FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54),FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60),FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66),FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO :68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72),FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78),FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84),FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90 ),FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96),FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98 ), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ IDNO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108(SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112),FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ IDNO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124(SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 ( SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128),FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ IDNO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140(SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144),FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ IDNO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 ( SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156(SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) orFIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); lacking its associated signal peptide; (c) anamino acid sequence of the extracellular domain of the polypeptide shownin FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2 ), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6),FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12),FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18),FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24),FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30),FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36),FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42),FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48),FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54),FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60),FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64 ), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66),FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72 ),FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78),FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84),FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90),FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96),FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ IDNO:102 ), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108(SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112),FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ IDNO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124(SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128),FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ IDNO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140(SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144),FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ IDNO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156(SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) orFIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), with its associated signal peptide; (d) anamino acid sequence of the extracellular domain of the polypeptide shownin FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6),FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12),FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18),FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24),FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30),FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36),FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42),FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48),FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54),FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60),FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66),FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72),FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78),FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84),FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90),FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96),FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ IDNO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108(SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112),FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ IDNO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124(SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128),FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ IDNO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140(SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144),FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ IDNO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156(SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 1.60 (SEQ ID NO:160) orFIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lacking its associated signal peptide; (e) anamino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1(SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105), FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107),FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ IDNO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119(SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123),FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ IDNO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135(SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139),FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ IDNO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151(SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155),FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ IDNO:161); (f) an amino acid sequence encoded by the fun-length codingsequence of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG.3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B(SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81(SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87(SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93(SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99(SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), orFIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ IDNO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115(SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119),FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ IDNO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131(SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135),FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ IDNO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147(SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151),FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ IDNO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); or (g) anamino acid sequence encoded by the full-length coding sequence of thecDNA deposited under any ATCC accession number shown in Table 7 oravailable under any Accession Number shown in Table
 8. 12. An isolatedpolypeptide comprising: (a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ IDNO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ IDNO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ IDNO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ IDNO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ IDNO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ IDNO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ IDNO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ IDNO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ IDNO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ IDNO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ IDNO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ IDNO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ IDNO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ IDNO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ IDNO:98), FIG. 100 (SQID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110(SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114),FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ IDNO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126(SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130),FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ IDNO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142(SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146),FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ IDNO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158(SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162);(b) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ IDNO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ IDNO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ IDNO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ IDNO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ IDNO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ IDNO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ IDNO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ IDNO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ IDNO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ IDNO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ IDNO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ IDNO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ IDNO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ IDNO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ IDNO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ IDNO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106(SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110),FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ IDNO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122(SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126),FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ IDNO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138(SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142),FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ IDNO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154(SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158),FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lacking itsassociated signal peptide; (c) an amino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), with itsassociated signal peptide; (d) an amino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (e) an amino acid sequence encoded by thenucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3),FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG.11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG.17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG.23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG.29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG.35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG.41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG.47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG.53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG.59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG.65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG.71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75),FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81),FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87),FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93),FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99),FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ IDNO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (f) an amino acid sequence encoded bythe full-length coding sequence of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG.1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); or (g) an amino acid sequence encoded by thefiul-length coding sequence of the cDNA deposited under any ATCCaccession number shown in Table 7 or available under any AccessionNumber shown in Table
 8. 13. A chimeric polypeptide comprising thepolypeptide of claim 11 fused to a heterologous polypeptide.
 14. Thechimeric polypeptide of claim 13, wherein said heterologous polypeptideis an epitope tag sequence or an Fc region of an immunoglobulin.
 15. Anisolated antibody which binds to a polypeptide having at least 80% aminoacid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2(SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162); (b) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG.4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10(SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16(SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22(SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28(SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34(SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40(SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46(SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52(SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58(SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64(SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70(SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76(SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82(SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88(SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94(SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100(SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (c) an amnino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID. NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162),with itsassociated signal peptide; (d) an amino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (e) an amino acid sequence encoded by thenucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3),FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG.11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG.17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG.23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG.29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG.35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG.41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG.47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG.53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG.59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG.65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG.71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75),FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81),FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87),FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93),FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99),FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ IDNO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (f) an amino acid sequence encoded bythe full-length coding sequence of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG.1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:5 1), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO: lot), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); or (g) an amino acid sequence encoded by thefull-length coding sequence of the cDNA deposited under any ATCCaccession number shown in Table 7 or available under any AccessionNumber shown in Table
 8. 16. The antibody of claim 15 which binds to apolypeptide comprising: (a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ IDNO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ IDNO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ IDNO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ IDNO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ IDNO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ IDNO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ IDNO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ IDNO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ IDNO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ IDNO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ IDNO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ IDNO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ IDNO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ 11D NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ IDNO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ IDNO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ IID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162); (b) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG.4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10(SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16(SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22(SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28(SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34(SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40(SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46(SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52(SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58(SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64(SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70(SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76(SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82(SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88(SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94(SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100(SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (c) an amino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), with itsassociated signal peptide; (d) an amino acid sequence of theextracellular domain of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2),FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG.10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG.16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG.22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG.28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG.34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG.40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG.46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG.52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG.58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG.64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG.70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG.76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG.82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG.88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG.94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG.100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104),FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ IDNO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116(SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120),FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ IDNO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132(SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136),FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ IDNO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148(SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152),FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ IDNO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162), lackingits associated signal peptide; (e) an amino acid sequence encoded by thenucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3),FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG.11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG.17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG.23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG.29 (SEQ ID NO:29)i FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG.35 (SEQ ]OD NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG.41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG.47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG.53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG.59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG.65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG.71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75),FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81),FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87),FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93),FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99),FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ IDNO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); (f) an amino acid sequence encoded bythe full-length coding sequence of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG.1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); or (g) an amino acid sequence encoded by thefull-length coding sequence of the cDNA deposited under any ATCCaccession number shown in Table 7 or available under any AccessionNumber shown in Table
 8. 17. The antibody of claim 15 which is amonoclonal antibody.
 18. The antibody of claim 15 which is an antibodyfragment.
 19. The antibody of claim 15 which is a chimeric or ahumanized antibody.
 20. The antibody of claim 15 which is conjugated toa growth inhibitory agent.
 21. The antibody of claim 15 which isconjugated to a cytotoxic agent.
 22. The antibody of claim 21, whereinthe cytotoxic agent is selected from the group consisting of toxins,antibiotics, radioactive isotopes and nucleolytic enzymes.
 23. Theantibody of claim 21, wherein the cytotoxic agent is a toxin.
 24. Theantibody of claim 23, wherein the toxin is selected from the groupconsisting of maytansinoid and calicheamicin.
 25. The antibody of claim23, wherein the toxin is a maytansinoid.
 26. The antibody of claim 15which is produced in bacteria.
 27. The antibody of claim 15 which isproduced in CHO cells.
 28. The antibody of claim 15 which induces deathof a cell to which it binds.
 29. The antibody of claim 15 which isdetectably labeled.
 30. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotidesequence that encodes the antibody of claim
 15. 31. An expression vectorcomprising the nucleic acid of claim 30 operably linked to controlsequences recognized by a host cell transformed with the vector.
 32. Ahost cell comprising the expression vector of claim
 31. 33. The hostcell of claim 32 which is a CHO cell, an E. coli cell or a yeast cell.34. A process for producing an antibody comprising culturing the hostcell of claim 32 under conditions suitable for expression of saidantibody and recovering said antibody from the cell culture.
 35. Acomposition of matter comprising: (a) the polypeptide of claim 11; (b)the chimeric polypeptide of claim 13; or (c) the antibody of claim 15,in combination with a carrier.
 36. The composition of matter of claim35, wherein said carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 37.An article of manufacture: (a) a container; and (b) the composition ofmatter of claim 35 contained within said container.
 38. The article ofmanufacture of claim 37 further comprising a label affixed to saidcontainer, or a package insert included with said container, referringto the use of said composition of matter for the therapeutic treatmentof or the diagnostic detection of a cancer.
 39. A method of killing acell that expresses a polypeptide having at least 80% amino acidsequence identity to: (a) the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ IDNO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ IDNO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ IDNO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ IDNO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ IDNO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ IDNO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ IDNO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ IDNO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ IDNO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ IDNO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ IDNO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ IDNO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ IDNO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ IDNO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ IDNO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ IDNO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104(SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162); or (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequencecomprising the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3(SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B(SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81(SEQ OD NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87(SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93(SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99(SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), orFIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ IDNO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115(SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119),FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ IDNO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131(SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135),FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ IDNO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147(SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151),FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ IDNO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); said methodcomprising contacting said cell with an antibody that binds to saidpolypeptide on said cell, thereby killing said cell.
 40. The method ofclaim 39, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 41. The methodof claim 39, wherein said antibody is an antibody fragment.
 42. Themethod of claim 39, wherein said antibody is a chimeric or a humanizedantibody.
 43. The method of claim 39, wherein said antibody isconjugated to a growth inhibitory agent.
 44. The method of claim 39,wherein said antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.
 45. The methodof claim 44, wherein said cytotoxic agent is selected from the groupconsisting of toxins, antibiotics, radioactive isotopes and nucleolyticenzymes.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the cytotoxic agent is atoxin.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the toxin is selected fromthe group consisting of maytansinoid and calicheamicin.
 48. The methodof claim 46, wherein the toxin is a maytansinoid.
 49. The method ofclaim 39, wherein said antibody is produced in bacteria.
 50. The methodof claim 39, wherein said antibody is produced in CHO cells.
 51. Themethod of claim 39, wherein said cell is further exposed to radiationtreatment or a chemotherapeutic agent.
 52. The method of claim 39,wherein said cell is selected from the group consisting of an Ulcerativecolitis cell and a Crohn's disease cell.
 53. The method of claim 39,wherein said cell overexpresses said polypeptide as compared to a normalcell of the same tissue origin.
 54. A method of therapeutically treatinga mammal having an IBD comprising cells that express a polypeptidehaving at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6(SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12(SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18(SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24(SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30(SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36(SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42(SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48(SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54(SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60(SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66(SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72(SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78(SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84(SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90(SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96(SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG.102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106),FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ IDNO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118(SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122),FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ IDNO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134(SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138),FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ IDNO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150(SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154),FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ IDNO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); or (b) an amino acid sequenceencoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequenceshown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ IDNO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ IDNO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ IDNO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ IDNO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ IDNO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ IDNO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ IDNO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ IDNO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ IDNO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ IDNO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ IDNO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ IDNO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77(SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83(SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89(SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95(SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101(SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ IDNO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); said method comprising administeringto said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody thatbinds to said polypeptide, thereby effectively treating said mammal. 55.The method of claim 54, wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.56. The method of claim 54, wherein said antibody is an antibodyfragment.
 57. The method of claim 54, wherein said antibody is achimeric or a humanized antibody.
 58. The method of claim 54, whereinsaid antibody is conjugated to a growth inhibitory agent.
 59. The methodof claim 54, wherein said antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.60. The method of claim 59, wherein said cytotoxic agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of toxins, antibiotics, radioactive isotopesand nucleolytic enzymes.
 61. The method of claim 59, wherein thecytotoxic agent is a toxin.
 62. The method of claim 61, wherein thetoxin is selected from the group consisting of maytansinoid andcalicheamicin.
 63. The method of claim 61, wherein the toxin is amaytansinoid.
 64. The method of claim 54, wherein said antibody isproduced in bacteria.
 65. The method of claim 54, wherein said antibodyis produced in CHO cells.
 66. The method of claim 54, wherein said IBDis further exposed to radiation treatment or a chemotherapeutic agent.67. The method of claim 54, wherein said IBD is selected from the groupconsisting of Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
 68. A method ofdetermining the presence of a polypeptide in a sample suspected ofcontaining said polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide has at least 80%amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acid sequence shown inFIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8(SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14(SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20(SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26(SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32(SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38(SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44(SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50(SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56(SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62(SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68(SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74(SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80(SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86(SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92(SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98(SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG.104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108),FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ IDNO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120(SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124),FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ IDNO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136(SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140),FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ IDNO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152(SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156),FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ IDNO:162); or (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequencecomprising the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3(SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B(SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81(SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87(SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93(SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99(SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), orFIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ IDNO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115(SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119),FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ IDNO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131(SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135),FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ IDNO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147(SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151),FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ IDNO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); said methodcomprising exposing said sample to an antibody that binds to saidpolypeptide and determining binding of said antibody to said polypeptidein said sample.
 69. The method of claim 68, wherein said samplecomprises a cell suspected of expressing said polypeptide.
 70. Themethod of claim 69, wherein said cell is an IBD cell.
 71. The method ofclaim 68, wherein said antibody is detectably labeled.
 72. A method ofdiagnosing the presence of an IBD in a mammal, said method comprisingdetecting the level of expression of a gene encoding a polypeptidehaving at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6(SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12(SEQ ID NO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18(SEQ ID NO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24(SEQ ID NO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30(SEQ ID NO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36(SEQ ID NO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42(SEQ ID NO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48(SEQ ID NO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54(SEQ ID NO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60(SEQ ID NO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66(SEQ ID NO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72(SEQ ID NO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78(SEQ ID NO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84(SEQ ID NO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90(SEQ ID NO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96(SEQ ID NO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG.102 (SEQ ID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106),FIG. 108 (SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ IDNO:112), FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118(SEQ ID NO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122),FIG. 124 (SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ IDNO:128), FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134(SEQ ID NO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138),FIG. 140 (SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ IDNO:144), FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150(SEQ ID NO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154),FIG. 156 (SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ IDNO:160) or FIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); or (b) an amino acid sequenceencoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequenceshown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ IDNO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ IDNO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ IDNO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ ID NO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ IDNO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ IDNO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ IDNO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ ID NO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ IDNO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ ID NO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ IDNO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ ID NO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ IDNO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ ID NO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ IDNO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ ID NO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ IDNO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ ID NO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ IDNO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ ID NO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77(SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79 (SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83(SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85 (SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89(SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91 (SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95(SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97 (SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101(SEQ ID NO:101), FIG. 103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ IDNO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ ID NO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQID NO:111), FIG. 113 (SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117(SEQ ID NO:117), FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121),FIG. 123 (SEQ ID NO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ IDNO:127), FIG. 129 (SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133(SEQ ID NO:133), FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137),FIG. 139 (SEQ ID NO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ IDNO:143), FIG. 145 (SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149(SEQ ID NO:149), FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153),FIG. 155 (SEQ ID NO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ IDNO:159), FIG. 161 (SEQ ID NO:161); in a test sample of tissue cellsobtained from said mammal and in a control sample of known normal cellsof the same tissue origin, wherein a higher or lower level of expressionof said polypeptide in the test sample, as compared to the controlsample, is indicative of the presence of an IBD in the mammal from whichthe test sample was obtained.
 73. The method of claim 72, wherein thestep detecting the level of expression of a gene encoding saidpolypeptide comprises employing an oligonucleotide in an in situhybridization or RT-PCR analysis.
 74. The method of claim 72, whereinthe step detecting the level of expression of a gene encoding saidpolypeptide comprises employing an antibody in an immunohistochemistryanalysis.
 75. A method of diagnosing the presence of an IBD in a mammal,said method comprising contacting a test sample of tissue cells obtainedfrom said mammal with an antibody that binds to a polypeptide having atleast 80% amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acid sequenceshown in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:4), FIG. 6 (SEQ IDNO:6), FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:8), FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:10), FIG. 12 (SEQ IDNO:12), FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:14), FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ IDNO:18), FIG. 20 (SEQ ID NO:20), FIG. 22 (SEQ ID NO:22), FIG. 24 (SEQ IDNO:24), FIG. 26 (SEQ ID NO:26), FIG. 28 (SEQ ID NO:28), FIG. 30 (SEQ IDNO:30), FIG. 32 (SEQ ID NO:32), FIG. 34 (SEQ ID NO:34), FIG. 36 (SEQ IDNO:36), FIG. 38 (SEQ ID NO:38), FIG. 40 (SEQ ID NO:40), FIG. 42 (SEQ IDNO:42), FIG. 44 (SEQ ID NO:44), FIG. 46 (SEQ ID NO:46), FIG. 48 (SEQ IDNO:48), FIG. 50 (SEQ ID NO:50), FIG. 52 (SEQ ID NO:52), FIG. 54 (SEQ IDNO:54), FIG. 56 (SEQ ID NO:56), FIG. 58 (SEQ ID NO:58), FIG. 60 (SEQ IDNO:60), FIG. 62 (SEQ ID NO:62), FIG. 64 (SEQ ID NO:64), FIG. 66 (SEQ IDNO:66), FIG. 68 (SEQ ID NO:68), FIG. 70 (SEQ ID NO:70), FIG. 72 (SEQ IDNO:72), FIG. 74 (SEQ ID NO:74), FIG. 76 (SEQ ID NO:76), FIG. 78 (SEQ IDNO:78), FIG. 80 (SEQ ID NO:80), FIG. 82 (SEQ ID NO:82), FIG. 84 (SEQ IDNO:84), FIG. 86 (SEQ ID NO:86), FIG. 88 (SEQ ID NO:88), FIG. 90 (SEQ IDNO:90), FIG. 92 (SEQ ID NO:92), FIG. 94 (SEQ ID NO:94), FIG. 96 (SEQ IDNO:96), FIG. 98 (SEQ ID NO:98), FIG. 100 (SEQ ID NO:100), FIG. 102 (SEQID NO:102), FIG. 104 (SEQ ID NO:104), FIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106), FIG. 108(SEQ ID NO:108), FIG. 110 (SEQ ID NO:110), FIG. 112 (SEQ ID NO:112),FIG. 114 (SEQ ID NO:114), FIG. 116 (SEQ ID NO:116), FIG. 118 (SEQ IDNO:118), FIG. 120 (SEQ ID NO:120), FIG. 122 (SEQ ID NO:122), FIG. 124(SEQ ID NO:124), FIG. 126 (SEQ ID NO:126), FIG. 128 (SEQ ID NO:128),FIG. 130 (SEQ ID NO:130), FIG. 132 (SEQ ID NO:132), FIG. 134 (SEQ IDNO:134), FIG. 136 (SEQ ID NO:136), FIG. 138 (SEQ ID NO:138), FIG. 140(SEQ ID NO:140), FIG. 142 (SEQ ID NO:142), FIG. 144 (SEQ ID NO:144),FIG. 146 (SEQ ID NO:146), FIG. 148 (SEQ ID NO:148), FIG. 150 (SEQ IDNO:150), FIG. 152 (SEQ ID NO:152), FIG. 154 (SEQ ID NO:154), FIG. 156(SEQ ID NO:156), FIG. 158 (SEQ ID NO:158), FIG. 160 (SEQ ID NO:160) orFIG. 162 (SEQ ID NO:162); or (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by anucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1(SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3), FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 7 (SEQID NO:7), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:9), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:11), FIG. 13 (SEQ IDNO:13), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), FIG. 19 (SEQ IDNO:19), FIG. 21 (SEQ ID NO:21), FIG. 23 (SEQ ID NO:23), FIG. 25 (SEQ IDNO:25), FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO:27), FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO:29), FIG. 31 (SEQ IDNO:31), FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO:33), FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO:35), FIG. 37 (SEQ IDNO:37), FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO:39), FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO:41), FIG. 43 (SEQ IDNO:43), FIG. 45 (SEQ ID NO:45), FIG. 47 (SEQ ID NO:47), FIG. 49 (SEQ IDNO:49), FIG. 51 (SEQ ID NO:51), FIG. 53 (SEQ ID NO:53), FIG. 55 (SEQ IDNO:55), FIG. 57 (SEQ ID NO:57), FIG. 59 (SEQ ID NO:59), FIG. 61 (SEQ IDNO:61), FIG. 63 (SEQ ID NO:63), FIG. 65 (SEQ ID NO:65), FIG. 67 (SEQ IDNO:67), FIG. 69 (SEQ ID NO:69), FIG. 71 (SEQ ID NO:71), FIG. 73 (SEQ IDNO:73), FIGS. 75A-75B (SEQ ID NO:75), FIG. 77 (SEQ ID NO:77), FIG. 79(SEQ ID NO:79), FIG. 81 (SEQ ID NO:81), FIG. 83 (SEQ ID NO:83), FIG. 85(SEQ ID NO:85), FIG. 87 (SEQ ID NO:87), FIG. 89 (SEQ ID NO:89), FIG. 91(SEQ ID NO:91), FIG. 93 (SEQ ID NO:93), FIG. 95 (SEQ ID NO:95), FIG. 97(SEQ ID NO:97), FIG. 99 (SEQ ID NO:99), FIG. 101 (SEQ ID NO:101), FIG.103 (SEQ ID NO:103), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105)FIG. 107 (SEQ IDNO:107), FIG. 109 (SEQ ID NO:109), FIG. 111 (SEQ ID NO:111), FIG. 113(SEQ ID NO:113), FIG. 115 (SEQ ID NO:115), FIG. 117 (SEQ ID NO:117),FIG. 119 (SEQ ID NO:119), FIG. 121 (SEQ ID NO:121), FIG. 123 (SEQ IDNO:123), FIG. 125 (SEQ ID NO:125), FIG. 127 (SEQ ID NO:127), FIG. 129(SEQ ID NO:129), FIG. 131 (SEQ ID NO:131), FIG. 133 (SEQ ID NO:133),FIG. 135 (SEQ ID NO:135), FIG. 137 (SEQ ID NO:137), FIG. 139 (SEQ IDNO:139), FIG. 141 (SEQ ID NO:141), FIG. 143 (SEQ ID NO:143), FIG. 145(SEQ ID NO:145), FIG. 147 (SEQ ID NO:147), FIG. 149 (SEQ ID NO:149),FIG. 151 (SEQ ID NO:151), FIG. 153 (SEQ ID NO:153), FIG. 155 (SEQ IDNO:155), FIG. 157 (SEQ ID NO:157), FIG. 159 (SEQ ID NO:159), FIG. 161(SEQ ID NO:161); and detecting the formation of a complex between saidantibody and said polypeptide in the test sample, wherein the formationof a complex is indicative of the presence of an IBD in said mammal. 76.The method of claim 75, wherein said antibody is detectably labeled. 77.The method of claim 75, wherein said test sample of tissue cells isobtained from an individual suspected of having an IBD.
 78. A method oftherapeutically treating a mammal having an IBD comprising administeringto said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptidehaving at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acidsequence shown in FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), orFIG. 106 (SEQ ID NO:106); or (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by anucleotide sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 15(SEQ ID NO:15), FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105),thereby effectively treating said mammal.
 79. The method of claim 78,wherein said IBD is Crohn's disease.
 80. A method of diagnosing thepresence of an MBD in a mammal, said method comprising detecting thelevel of expression of a gene encoding a polypeptide having at least 80%amino acid sequence identity to: (a) the amino acid sequence shown inFIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:16), FIG. 18 (SEQ ID NO:18), or FIG. 106 (SEQ IDNO:106); or (b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequencecomprising the nucleotide sequence. shown in FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:15),FIG. 17 (SEQ ID NO:17), or FIG. 105 (SEQ ID NO:105), in a test sample oftissue cells obtained from said mammal and in a control sample of knownnormal cells of the same tissue origin, wherein a lower level ofexpression of said polypeptide in the test sample, as compared to thecontrol sample, is indicative of the presence of an IBD in the mammalfrom which the test sample was obtained.
 81. The method of claim 80,wherein the step detecting the level of expression of a gene encodingsaid polypeptide comprises employing an oligonucleotide in an in situhybridization or RT-PCR analysis.
 82. The method of claim 80, whereinthe step detecting the level of expression of a gene encoding saidpolypeptide comprises employing an antibody in an immunohistochemistryanalysis.
 83. The method of claim 80, wherein the IBD is Crohn'sdisease.